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40 


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22 

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Photographic 

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Corporation 


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CIHM/ICMH 

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32X 


f. 


re 

6tails 
)8  du 
nodifier 
)r  une 
ilmage 


I 


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les 


e 


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la  darnidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

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et  da  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


^  errata 
id  to 

It 

ie  pelure, 

9on  d 


32X 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

M. 


i  ■' 


EIGHJTY-JFHREE  YEARS  A  SERVAN^F, 


OR 


THE    LIFE    OF 


KEY.  ALYAH  SABIN, 


BY 


ALVAH  8.  KOBARr. 


Of' 


WASMl 


/  c 


Printed  for  the  Author  by 
The  Rbvibw  Phintin(»  Co.,  Cincinnati,  O.      y 
1886.  S 


saaKS 


COI'YKIUIITKI), 


1885,- 


IIY 


ALVAH  S.  UOBAHT, 

CINCINNATI.  (). 


DKDICATION. 


TO    THE    PEOPLE   OF   THK  TOWN    Of    (iKUK(ilA,   AS  A  Tf)KKN 

OF  GRATEFUL    APPRECIATION    OF   THE    KINDNESS   AND 

ABUNDANT     HONOR    SHOWN  TO   "FATHER    SABIN" 

DURING    HIS    LONG    LIFE  AMONG   THEM,   AND 

THE    TENDERNESS    WITH    WHICH    THEV 

RECEIVED  HIS    BODY   AND    LAID   IT 

AMONG   THEtK    OWN   BELOVED 

DEAD.    THIS    VOLUME    IS 

DEDICATED. 


(3) 


ii 


PR  E  FAC  E. 


The  Author  has  felt  a  hesitation  in  attempting  this 
work,  because  of  his  intimate  and  dear  relation  to  the 
subject  of  it.  To  avoid  excessive  praise  on  the  one  hand, 
and  undue  suppression  of  it  on  the  other,  is  no  easy 
task.  Yet  there  was  no  other  who  was  in  circumstances 
to  preserve  a  record,  which  by  many  was  deemed 
worthy  of  remembrance.  It  was  after  much  persuasion 
that  Father  Sabin  consented  to  help  in  the  work.  In  a 
letter  of  December  12,  1881,  he  wrote:  "There  are 
two  things  which  I  dread,  viz:  making  my  will  and 
writing  the  biography  you  suggest.  Yet  it  may  be  my 
duty  to  do  both."  At  a  later  date  he  wrote  :  "  If  I 
have  strength  enough,  I  am  willing  to  write  to  you  a 
series  of  letters  upon  such  topics  as  may  seem  best  to 
me,  or  as  you  may  suggest,  *  *  *  anj  thjg  letter 
may  be  the  first  of  the  series."  From  the  letters  which 
followed,  and  from  memoranda  in  diaries,  the  personal 
items  of  this  history  have  been  gathered.  Acknowl- 
edgement is  here  gratefully  made  to  Mr.  O.  S.  Bliss,  of 
Georgia,  Vt.,  for  accurate  chronological  data;  to  Rev. 
Anson  Titus,  Amesbury,  Mass.,  for  facts  in  ronnection 
with  the  family  record  ;  to  Rev.  J.  G.  Lorimer,  for  as- 

(5) 


)!i 


'!,! 

':;1| 


6  Preface. 

sistance  in  searching"  tlic  records  of  the  church  at 
Georgia  The  writer  has  attempted  mainly  to  give  to 
personal  friends  of  its  subject  a  memorial  volume.  Yet 
it  is  thought  that,  by  putting  it  into  the  great  book 
market,  some  young  men  and  some  ministers  of  the 
gospel  may  find  useful  lessons. 


T 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


he  church  at 
nly  to  give  to 
volume.  Yet 
:he  great  book 
misters  of  the 


CHAPTER  I. 


RELIGIOUS  EXPERIENCE. 


Rev.  Alvah  Sabin.  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  October  23,  1793,  of  Benjamin  and  Polly  Sabin, 
in  the  town  of  Georgia,  Vermont,  on  the  farm  which 
was  afterward  owned  by  him  until  about  the  time  he 
left  Georgia  in  1876.* 

The  following  account  of  his  early  religious  expe- 
riences is  taken  from  his  own  notes,  written  by  re- 
quest : 

"I  do  not  remember  when  I  did  not  believe  the  Bi- 
ble to  be  the  Word  of  God.  But  in  my  earliest  mem- 
ory there  lies  a  confused  idea  of  the  condition  of  the 
dead.  I  had  no  clear  conception  of  the  existence  of 
tlie  soul  in  distinction  from  the  body.  When  about 
nine  or  ten  years  old,  my  thoughts  were  gloomy  and 
kept  me  awake  many  time.-  in  the  night.  As  the  sun 
declined  at  evening,  a  loneliness  would  steal  over  me 
which  made  me  sick  at  heart.  My  mother  noticed  this, 
and  asked  me  about  the  cause  of  it,  and  when  I  tried  to 
tell  her,  she  advised  me  to  say  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and 
to  commit  some  hymns  to  memory,  and  repeat  them. 
She  had  not  at  this  time  made  a  public  profession  of 
religion,  but  I  now  think  that  ahe  had  a  secret  hope. 
Up  to  this  time  I  had  received  no  personal    instruction 

*  There  is  added  to  this  work  a  chapter  on  the  family  history, 
to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for  the  account  of  his  early  influ- 
ences and  surroundings. 


8 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


I"  I 
...1. 


as  to  my  duty  toward  God.  I  knew  but  vaguely  whr.t 
I  needed  to  relieve  my  mind  from  its  gloomy  state.  I 
had  never  heard  of  a  Christian  experience,  nor  a  re- 
vival of  religion,  nor  had  I  ever  attended  a  conference 
meeting. 

"After   a    number     of     years    and    without     any 
consciousness  of  the   process   of  my   mind,    I    found 
myself  resolved  to  live  a  Christian  life,   and  to  do  the 
duties  that  are  enjoined  in  the  Bible.     I  was  fixed  in 
the  purpose  and  habit  of  secret  prayer.     I  had  a  time  and 
place  for  it,  and  was  punctual  in  the   performance   of 
what    I    considered    to    be    my    religious    duties.      I 
never  was  able,  as  many  Christians  are,  to  tell  the  time 
when   my  mind  underwent  a  change,  and  to  contrast 
my  feelings  before  and  after  the  change.     Perhaps  if  I 
had  been  older,  I  should  have  been  able  to  designate 
the  time  of  my  conversion  more  exactly.     I   then  be- 
lieved, as  now,  that,  if  one  is  a  Christian,  he  has  been 
born  again  ;   but  there  are  thousands  of  truly  Christian 
men  and  women  who  can  not  tell  the  day  of  their  birth. 
I  have  often  felt  that  it  would  be  a  great  satisfaction,  if 
I  could  fix  the  time  of  it,  and  be  able  to  say,    'Draw 
near,  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  I  will  declare  what  he 
hath  done  for  my  soul. '      I  had  no  fixed  determination 
that  I  would  not  make  a  public  profession  of  religion  ; 
but  I  shrank  from  it,  and  neglected  to  do  it.     But  I 
found  as  I  grew  older  that  I  was  drawn  into  things 
which  did  not  comport  with  a  Christian  life.     I  remem- 
ber an  effort  was  made  to  establish  a  dancing  school, 
and  I  opposed  it,  and  set  up  a  debating  society  to  coun- 
teract it,   and  did  thus  prevent  some  from  attending  it. 
But  by  degrees,  I  was  drawn,  by  my  increasing  circle  of 
acquaintances,  into  the  whirl  of  youthful  folly.     I  now 


aguely  whr.t 
ny  state.  I 
:,  nor  a  re- 
a  conference 

vithout     any 
id,    I    found 
nd  to  do  the 
was  fixed  in 
ad  a  time  and 
rformance   of 
1    duties.      I 
tell  the  time 
i  to  contrast 
Perhaps  if  I 
to  designate 
I   then  be- 
,  he  has  been 
■uly  Christian 
)f  their  birth, 
satisfaction,  if 
3  say,    'Draw 
clare  what  he 
determination 
1  of  religion  ; 
lo  it.      But  I 
n  into  things 
fe.     I  remem- 
ncing  school, 
)ciety  to  coun- 
1  attending  it. 
:asing  circle  of 
folly.     I  now 


Religiotis  Experience.  g 

remember  several  times  when  I  went  out  in  the 
middle  of  the  evening,  and  away  from  the  house,  so 
that  I  should  not  be  heard,  and  cried  aloud  like  a  child  ; 
and  then  returned  to  the  company,  chastened  inheart, 
and  praying  God  to  keep  me  from  utterly  falling  away, 
and  resolving  that  I  would  not  do  anything  inconsis- 
tent with  what  I  thought  was  Christian  duty.  Thus 
things  went  on,  not  for  the  better,  but  for  the  worse, 
until  about  1815  or  18 16.  and  I  was  22  or  23  years  old. 
About  that  time  I  attended  a  meeting  on  North  Hero, 
and  heard  a  Methodist  preacher  speak  from  the  text, 
'Quench  not  the  Spirit.'  He  said,  among  other  things, 
that  we  might  quench  the  Spirit  by  smothering  it,  or 
letting  it  alone.  This  I  took  to  myself  I  was  doing 
nothing  to  keep  myself  in  the  love  of  God-.  If  I  had  a 
lively  sense  of  the  truth,  it  was  not  producing  any  fruit 
in  the  world.  I  thought  of  the  process  of  hardening 
steel.  They  heat  it  and  then  plunge  it  into  water,  then 
heat  it  and  plunge  it  into  water  again.  Thus  the  har- 
dening process  was  going  on  in  my  heart.  I  hardly 
dared  pray  for.the  enjoyment  of  religion,  for  it  seemed 
to  me  it  was  a  mercy  in  God  not  to  let  us  be  comfort- 
able so  long  as  we  are  disobedient.  I  remember  times 
when  some  of  my  companions  would  leave  the  singers' 
seats  to  go  to  the  communion,  and  they  seemed  to  me 
to  be  embarrassed  in  thus  separating  themselves  from 
their  fellow  singers.  And  then  I  thought  to  myself  O  if  I 
were  in  your  place,  I  should  be  the  happiest  person  in 
the  world!  About  this  time.  Elder  Roswell  Mears, 
who  had  been  preaching  there  for  eight  years,  held  a 
series  of  meetings,  and  seemingly  without  much  result. 
He  and  Deacon  Holmes  were  thinking  to  close  them. 
I  was  pressed  in  spirit  to  tell  them   that   I  desired  the 


,0  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

continuance  of  them,   but  I  had  become  so  accustomed 
to  stand  against  my  convictions  that  I  did  not  say  any- 
thing.    The  meetings,  however,  were  continued,  and  at 
a  meeting    in  the  house   of   Nathanael    Bowker.    my 
brother  Daniel  arose,  and  repeated  a  long  passage  found 
in  Prov.  i,  24-33.     This  was  the  beginning  of  a  great 
work.     In  many  of  the  meetings,    it  seemed  as  if  the 
foundations  were  shaken,  and  almost  every  one  seemed 
to  be  saying,  'What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?'     I  was  led 
to  have  a  very  debasing  view  of  myself,  because  of  my 
fearfulness  of  the  world,  and  my  unwillingness  to  suffer 
anything  for  Him  who  died  on  the  cross  for   me      1 
then  made  out  to  rise  and  confess  that,  for  a  long  time, 
I  had  been  trying  to  maintain  a  secret  hope  and  in  a 
blind  way  had  been  doing  the  duties  of  a  Christian.     I 
had  several  times  before  this  been   greatly  moved  by 
such  passages  as,  'Whosoever  is  ashamed  of  me,  of  him 
also  shall  the  Son  of  Man  be  ashamed  when  he  cometh  m 
the  glory  of  his  Father  with  the  holy  angels  ;'  or,  'Men 
do  not  light  a  candle  and  put  it  under  a  bushel,  but  on 
a  stand  and  it  giveth  light  to  all  that  are jn  the  house. 
It  seemed  as  if  these   stood  out  on  the  pages   of  the 
Bible  in  bold  relief.     I  saw  by  these  that  it  was  not 
possible  for  me  to  enjoy  a  peace  of  mind,  so  long  as  I 
was  unwilling  to  take  up  my  cross  and  follow    Jesus 
publicly.      I  saw  that  I  ought  not  to  desire  what  God 
could  not  consistently  bestow.     And  that  to  protract 
my  omission  of  public  duties  after  all  the  light  that  had 
been  beaming  around  me  for  three  months  past  would 
be  tenfold  more  criminal  than  the  omission  of  the  same 
duties  before  the  revival  of  the  past  winter.  I  saw  that 
it  was  life  or  death  with  me,  and  I  resolved  to  propose 
myself  as  a  candidate  for  baptism  and  admission  to  the 


customed 
t  say  any- 
ed,  and  at 
vker,  my 
age  found 
of  a  great 

as  if  the 
r»e  seemed 

I  was  led 
use  of  my 
3s  to  suffer 
or   me      1 
long  time, 
;   and  in   a 
iristian.      I 
moved  by 
me,  of  him 
e  Cometh  in 
;'  or,  'Men 
hel,  but  on 
the  house.' 
iges   of  the 
it  was  not 
o  long  as  I 
)llow    Jesus 

what  God 

to  protract 

jht  that  had 

past  would 
of  the  same 
.  I  saw  that 
i  to  propose 
ission  to  the 


Religious  Experience. 


11 


church.  In  the  month  of  February  I  offered  myself.and 
prayed  them  to  deal  faithfully  with  me.  After  hearing 
an  account  of  my  long  experience,  and  of  my  feelings 
during  the  late  revival,  and  asking  many  questions,  all 
but  one  brother,  Paul  Pratt,  said  that  they  thought  it 
was  my  duty  to  go  forward  and  be  baptized.  And 
accordingly  with  fourteen  others,  among  whom  were 
my  mother  and  Anna  Mears  (my  wife  afterwards),  and 
my  brother  Daniel,  and  Roswell  Mears,  Jr.,  and  Joseph 
Bowker,  and  Paul  Richards,*  I  went  to  the  Lamoille 
river,  at  a  place  near  Alvin  Hydes,  in  the  east  part 
of  the  town,  and  there  was  baptized,  the  ice  having 
been  cut  away  for  that  purpose. 

"After  this,  conference  meetings  were  held  fre- 
quently and  I  availed  myself  of  the  opportunity  to 
speak  of  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  my  soul,  and  es 
pecially  to  exhort  any,  who  were  cherishing  a  secret 
hope,  to  come  out  into  Christian  liberty  and  not  conceal 
their  light  under  a  bushel.  In  doing  this,  I  felt  a  peace 
of  mind  which  I  had  not  before  known  ;  but  I  had  not 
thatecstacy  which  many  others  spoke  of  having.  Several 
older  Christians  said  to  me,  'You  do  not  seem  to  be  as 
joyful  as  others.'  I  said,  'No,  I  have  made  and  broken 
so  many  resolutions,  that  I  fear  that  this  last  one  will 
be  like  all  the  rest,  and  my  fear  of  backsliding  more 
than  counterbalances  the  joy  of  my  trembling  hope.' 

"I  remember  at  one  time,  in  the  month  of  April 
following  my  baptism,  I  was  at  work  in  the  barn,  and 
I  indulged  in  meditation  on  what  had  taken  place  dur- 
ing the  past  few  months.  I  considered  how  that  I  had 
now  put  on  Christ  by  baptism  ;  I  had  joined  the  church  ; 

*There  were  thus  four  ministers  baptized  at  that  time.— [Ed. 


*«««-?': 


12 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


1  had  confessed  my  faith ;  I  had  subscribed  to  the  cove- 
nant •  yet  I  had  not  the  joys  of  which  1  heard  others 
speak     I  finally  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  this  state  of 
mind  was  just  what  I  had  reason  to  expect,  and  that  I 
had  blunted  my  feelings  by  my  long-continued  neglect 
and  I  ought  to  be  satisfied  with  the  consciousness  that  I 
had  done   my  duty,  and   ought  to  bless  God  for  his 
grace  and  mercy.     I  said  to  my  Heavenly  Father  on 
my  knees,  'If  thou  wilt  give  me  strength  to  do  thy  will, 
and  grant  me  grace  to  discharge  all  the  duties  I  owe  to 
my  Savior  and  the  church  and   to  the   world,    I  will 
cheerfully  dispense  with  the  ecstacies  which  others  enjoy 
and  follow  thee  through  evil  report  and  good  report.' 
At  the  close  of  the  day  I  went  to  conference  meeting, 
and,  as  I  had  opportunity,  I   spoke  of  the  goodness 
and  forbearance  of  God.    I  attempted,  also,  to  lead  the 
meeting  in  prayer,  and  this  I   enjoyed  ;   I  also  felt  a 
cordial  fellowship  towards  all  the  brethren.     When  the 
meeting  was  over,  I  went  home  alone.    It  was  a  beauti- 
ful evening.     The  sky  was  clear  ;  the  stars  shone   with 
unusual  brightness ;  the  air  was  balmy,  and  as  I  went 
along  I  fell  into  a   train    of   reflection   something   like 
this  :  'The  Lord  hath  brought  me  through  all  my  omis- 
sions of   duty,   through  all   my  perversions  of  talent 
and  abuse  of  blessings,  to  where  I   am."     And  at  the 
close  of  these  meditations,  I  found  myself  in  as  happy 
a  state  as  I  ever  realized  in  my  life.     I  felt  as  light  as  a 
feather,  the  very  heavens  smiled  over  my  head.   I  could 
have  walked  on  eggs  and  not  broken  them.     When  I 
reached  home  and  retired  to  bed,  I  could  not  sleep,  but 
praised  God  for' his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of 
men.     Afterwards,  when  this  joy  waned,  I  was  able  to 
trace  it  back  to  the  covenant  I  made  with  God  in  the 


Religtous  Experience. 


13 


the  cove- 
rd  others 
is  state  of 
ind  that  I 
d  neglect, 
jess  that  I 
)d  for  his 
Father  on 
o  thy  will, 
s  I  owe  to 
•Id,    I  will 
;hers  enjoy 
d  report.' 
e  meeting, 
;  goodness 
to  lead  the 
also  felt  a 

When  the 
as  a  beauti- 
shone  with 

as  I  went 
ething  like 
ill  my  omis- 
is  of  talent 
And  at  the 
ti  as  happy 
as  light  as  a 
ad.  I  could 
I.  When  I 
3t  sleep,  but 
:  children  of 

was  able  to 

God  in  the 


barn,  namely,  that  I  would  do  my  duty  and  trust  him 
to  fully  satisfy  my  heart  with  joy,  when  I  should  arrive 
in  the  other  world." 

Such  is  the  account  of  his  beginning  a  Christian  life. 
It  is  given  quite  fully,  because  of  the  light  it  throws  on 
his  after  life.  Observation  shows  that  first  experiences 
are  the  key  notes  to  the  religious  activities.  Luther 
was  lighted  into  the  kingdom  by  the  text:  "The  just 
shall  live  by  faith,"  and  this  text  ever  gave  the  drift  to 
his  preaching.  He  set  it  before  the  common  people  in 
all  simplicity  and  earnestness,  and  thundered  it  in  the 
ears  of  the  Pope  and  his  cardinals.  It  was  the  spur  to 
his  energies  and  the  talisman  to  shield  him  from  the 
bewitchments  of  the  old  habit  of  reverence  to  the 
Church  of  Rome.  Charles  Spurgeon  met  his  Savior 
at  the  text :  "Look  unto  me,  all  ye  ends  of  the  earth, 
and  be  ye  saved, "  and  that  sentence  sums  up  his  preach- 
ing. In  all  the  rich  variety  of  his  fertile  mind  and  the 
pathos  of  his  sincere  and  Christ  like  heart,  he  presents 
this  one  idea,  "Full  .salvation  for  every  man  or  woman 
who  will  look  to  God  for  it  through  Jesus  Christ." 
"Whom  God  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith 
in  his  blood,"  Rom.  iii,  25,  was  the  greeting  which 
met  Wm.  Cowper  as  in  despair  he  opened  his  Bible  for 
help,  and  in  recognition  of  the  influence  of  it  on  his 
mind  and  life,  he  wrote  : 

There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood. 

Drawn  from  Emanuel's  veins, 
And  .sinners  plunged  beneath  that  flood 

Lose  all  their  guilty  stains. 

E'er  since  by  faith  I  saw  the  stream 

Thy  flowing  wounds  supply, 
Redeeming  love  has  been  my  theme. 

And  shall  be  till  I  die. 


StvSi;- 


J  .  Life  of  Ket>.  Alvah  Sabin. 

The  same  principle  made  the  obligation  of  duty  a  liv 
ine  and  a  lasting  one  with  Alvah  Sabin.     Although  h.s 
life  was  not  by  any  means  destitute  of  great  joy.  yet  the 
predominant  feature  of  it  was  duty  to  God  and  man. 
In  the  long  pastorate  of  half  a   century,    there   were 
many  things  to  try  the  patience  of  a  good  man-many 
things  which  some  would  have  considered  sufficient  rea- 
son to   warrant  a  change  of  pastorate  ;  but  the  ever  re- 
curring  memory  of  that  contract  with  his  master,  to  do 
the  duty  and  do  without  the  joy.  kept  him  patient  and 
faithful  where  others  would   have  been  discouraged. 
There  were  times  in  his  life-many  of  them-when  the 
fountain  of  his  rejoicing  filled  and  ran  over  ;  and  times 
when  he  was  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  his  unfaith- 
fulness, and  with  tears  confessed  it  before  h.s  church. 
But   on  the  whole,  his  religious  experience  was  more 
even  than  most  men's.      He  never  lost  the  love  of  life 
here      He  had  nothing  of  the  pessimist  in  his  makeup. 
Even  down  to  the  last  week  of  his  pilgrimage  he  re- 
garded life  as  a  joy.  a  great  boon,  wellworth  the  living 
He  enjoyed  seeing  and  hearing  about  the  business  of 
the  large  farm  on  which  his  son  lived.     His  interest  in 
all  religious  matters  kept  up  to  the   last.     There  were 
no  traces  of  that  spirit  akin  to  jealousy  which  is  often 
with  men  who  from  the  infirmities  of  old  age  are  denied 
that  prominence  which  they   have  formerly  enjoyed. 
Although  he  was  conscious  that  he  was  out  of  the  no- 
tice of  men.  he  had  very  little  of   the  disposition  to 
contrast  unfavorably  the  present  age  with  the   past. 
He  read  in  all  his  later  years  the  leading  newspapers  ol 
the  Baptist  and  Congregational  denominations,  includ- 
ing the  missionary  magazines,  and  for  many  years  was 
a  regular  subscriber  and  interested  reader  of  the  Chm- 


;•  I 


I, 


Religious  lixperience. 


»5 


duty  a  liv 
hough  his 
jy,  yet  the 
and  man. 
here   were 
an— many 
ficient  rea- 
he  ever  re- 
ister,  to  do 
patient  and 
scouraged. 
—when  the 

and  times 
his  unfaith- 
lis  church, 
e  was  more 
love  of  life 
kis  makeup, 
lage  he  re- 
1  the  living, 
busine-ss  of 

interest  in 
There  were 
lich  is  often 
e  are  denied 
•ly  enjoyed, 
it  of  the  no- 
isposition  to 
;h  the   past, 
jwspapers  of 
tions,  includ- 
ny  years  was 
of  the  Chris- 


Han   Union.     Thus    he   was   informed   about   the   new 
theology,  and  spoke  his  mind  with   freedom,  but  not 

a  letter  of   March  26,    1883,   he 


In 


with   bitterness 
wrote  : 

"1    have   all    the   periodicals    that    I    can  read,  on 
all  the  subjects  that  are  occupying  the  public  mind. 
On  the  subject  of  religion  there  are  some  strange  no- 
tions advanced.     One  has  to  shut  his  eyes  and  stop  his 
ears,  and  think  back  twenty  years,  to  be  sure  of  his 
identity.     They  hold  the  jargon  of  creeds  so  charitably 
that  they  do  not  ask  you  to  embrace  their  views  ;  but, 
if  you  will  e.xtcnd  your  hand  of  fellow.ship  to  them,  all 
is  well.     Now,  if  it  is  no  matter  which  of  the  various 
views   of  atonement   we   hold,   then    it  is  no  matter 
whether  we  embrace  any  of  them.     Entire  credulity  is 
ignorant  infidelity.    A  universal  fellowship  is  just  equal 
to  no  fellowship  at  all.     One  may  as  well  have  no  doors 
to  his  house,  as  to  have  them  all  stand  open  night  and 
day.     It  seems  to  me  as  if  the  modern  improvement 
of  the  Christian  creeds  is  designed  to  throw  out  the 
duty  we  owe  to  God,  and  to  retain  only  the  duties  we 
owe  to  men,  and  these  duties  to  have  relation  to  the 
happiness  of  this  life  only,  without  regard  to  the  future 
state.     It  has  all  a  tendency  to  make  one  indifferent  to 
the  duties  of  religion.     But  I  console  myself  with  the 
thought  that  the  Lord  reigns,  and  He  is  able  to  over- 
rule these  things  for  His  glory,  and  the  good  of  His 
children,    and   the  advancement  of  His   kingdom.     I 
have  myself  all  the  comforts  of  this  life  which   I  am 
capable  of  enjoying.     An  old  man  is  half  dead  while 
he  is  walking  about,  and  all  his  enjoyments  are  limited 
as  to  number  and  degree.    Like  old  Barzillai,  we  should 
be  content  to  stay  at  home  and  be  buried  with  our  fore- 


,r,  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

fathers  in  our  native  land.    I  can  truly  say.  'What  shall 
I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  His  benefits  to  me  ?'  " 

He  often  said  that  he  was  willing  to  die  and  he  was 
willing  to  stay  here  ;  but  he  would  be  «!«''.  'f  '^  w«.'re 
the  will  of  God,  that  he  should   be  well  while   he   re- 
mained.    It  was  a  source  of  thankfulness  for  him  that 
he  retained  his  faculties  so  well.   He  said  shortly  before 
his  death  :    "  I  am  j,dad  to  believe  that  what  sense  I 
ever  had  I  have  now. "     In  another  letter  he  wrote  :   '  'I 
can  say.  'I  would  not  live  alway.'  and  sometimes  I  hope 
I  can  say.  'I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having  a  desire 
to  depart  and  be  with  Christ ;'    but  I  can  not  say  with 
Paul,  '  for  me  to  remain  is  better  for  you,'  for  my  light 
is  flickering  in  the  socket  and  can  not  illuminate  its  own 
lampstand.     I  am  not  wearied  with  human  life.     I  love 
God's  beautiful,  green,  round  earth  as  much  as  ever  I 
did ;  my  friends  are  dear  to  me  as  ever  they  were ;  my 
solicitation  for  the  prosperity  of  Zion  is  unabated ;  but 
still  the  fact  that  all  the  Christian  community,  ministers 
and  brethren  who  were  my  companions  have  passed 
over  the  river  detracts  from  personal  enjoyment." 

There  were  those  who  thought  that  he  was  lacking  in 
the  emotional  side  of  his  nature.     But  this  was  not  a 
just  estimate;  he  was  a  man  of  usually  tender  emotion. 
He  could  not  speak  of  his  early  faith  without  tears, 
and  upon  many  of  the  deeper  themes  of  the  Gospel  he 
could  only  talk  with  broken  voice,  and  moist  eye.    The 
difference  between  him  and  others,  was  in  the  approach 
to  his  emotion.     With  many  men,   an  illustration  of 
truth,  drawn  from  human  life,  moves  more  than  the 
truth  itself.     With  him  this  was  not  so.     His  habit  of 
thinking   abstractly  made  him  so  familiar  with  naked 
statements  that  he  was  beyond  the  need  of  the  illustra- 


Kelif^ious  Expirifuct . 


'7 


What  shall 

?i     1 1 

mcl  he  was 
,  if  it  \v»:re 
liilc   he   re- 
r  him  that 
>rtly  before 
hat  sense  I 
;  wrote:   "I 
mes  I  hope 
ing  a  desire 
lot  say  with 
"or  my  light 
nate  its  own 
life.      I  love 
h  as  ever  1 
y  were ;  my 
abated ;  but 
ty,  ministers 
have  passed 
ment." 
as  lacking  in 
s  was  not  a 
der  emotion, 
ithout  tears, 
he  Gospel  he 
ist  eye.    The 
the  approach 
[lustration  of 
ore  than  the 
His  habit  of 
•  with  naked 
f  the  illustra- 


tions. A  man  who  loves  children  and  is  a  favorite 
with  tluin  never  laiks  on  the  emotional  side.  A  man 
with  a  ciuitk  sympathy  for  the  needy  is  never  wanting 
there,  and  these  were  fharacteristics  of  his,  lie  was, 
as  we  have  said,  brought  into  the  sense  of  adoption  in 
connection  with  the  word  duty,  and  he  early  learned 
to  kindle  liis  joy  with  obedience,  not  with  illustrations. 
This  was  also  in  keeping  with  his  home  training'.  His 
mother  was  not  a  professor  of  religion  until  he  was  a 
man  grown,  but  no  man  hatl  more  thorough  training  in 
the  ground  principles  of  morality  than  was  given  in 
his  home. 

If  his  early  experience  gave  the  flavor  to  his  religious 
cliar.\cter,  his  home  training  and  his  mental  inheritance 
were  in  turn  the  roots  of  his  experience.      God  always 
works    in    us,  and    through    us  ;    thus  our  experiences 
are  varied  as  our  mental  traits  and  inheritances;  thus 
also  the  church  is  not  a  body  of  men   in  spiritual  uni- 
form, but,  like  society,  or  the  state,    has   rich  variety  ; 
"diversities  of  operation,  but  the  same  spirit."     The 
basis  of  fis  life  was  laid  in  deep,  strong  convictions  of 
right  and  wrong.      As  in  the  Bible  the  Mosaic  code  of 
morals  is  first  mentioned  and  after  this  the  gospel,  and, 
as  in  all  cases  of  .strong,  well-balanced  character,  the 
moral  training  precedes  the  gospel  activities,  so  in   his 
case  there  was  at  the  foundation   a  righteous  purpose 
towards  men.     Those  who  knew   him   well    remember 
how  the  impulses  to  fair  dealing,  and   truth    speaking, 
and   frankne.ss,  and  generosity  were  from  the  depths. 
They  did  not  feel  that  he  was  fighting  down  covetous 
ness,  nor   lying,  nor  stinginess.     The  writer  silent  the 
early  years  of  his  boyhood,  when  observation  is  keen- 
est, in  the  home  of  this  pure  man,  and   he  does  not 


,g  lift  of  Rro.  Alvah  Salnn 

r.-momber  any  occasion  wlien  there  secnicl  to  W  >von 
a  momentary  ^in^^^\^  with  decepti..n.  or  covetouHness 
or   evil   purpose.      The   f.nnitain  was  *lr.p  and  ilowi-U 
cl.-ar.      He   was  an    Israelite,    indeed,    in    whom    there 

was  no  j^uile, 

I'he  '5tli  of  Matthew  was  his  standard  of  duty,     nc 
was  at  otie  time  called  upon  by  a  stran^;er.  wh..  stated 
that   he  was  in  <lebl,  and  had    just    money  en.n.uh  to 
pay  ;  but  he  was  anxious  to  ^o  to  the    West   an<l  uel 
him  a  farm.      If  he  paid  the  debt,  he  had  no  money  to 
.r„.  and  if  he  did  n.H  pay  it.  he  would  be  liable  to  the 
charRc  of  abscondin„^     He  heard  of  Mr.  Sabin's  knu-    " 
ness.  and  came    to    ask    a    loan.      This    was  -ranted. 
In    speaking   of  it   many   years  afterwards.  Mr.  habm 
said  it  had  been  a  source  of  -ratification  to  h.m  that 
his  reputation  was  such  that  a  stranger  would  feel  con- 
fidence to  ask  such  a  favor.      At  another  time  he  was 
harnessin-   his  horse  to  ^^o   to  Westford  to  preach,  a 
distance  of  twelve  miles.      A  ^ei-hbor  came  and  asked 
the  use  of  his  horse  to  i^o  to  the  mill,  saying  that  his 
family  was  out  of  flour.      Mr.  .Sabin  quietly  hftched  h.s 
horse   to   the  lumber   wagon,    »Tave  the    lines   to   the 
neighbor,  and  then  walked  to  his  duty  in  Westford, 

In  all  his  life  he  was  an  active  pal^ci:Jant  in  the  po- 
litical questions  of  the  state  and  nation,  and  was  thus 
brought  into  opposition  to  men  of  his  acquaintance  ; 
yet  such  was  the  cMifidence  of  men  that  no  one  ques 
tioned  his  integrity  and  fairness.  In  hi.s  absence  from 
home  on  political  duties,  he  maintained  his  Christian 
activities.  In  Washington  he  was  a  grateful  source  of 
help  to  the  pastors  of  the  city,  being  always  ready  to 
preach  in  their  stead.  So  much  was  he  in  demand  that 
when  someone  asked  him  how  he  enjoyed  the  privilege 


Rf/ii^ions  fixf>i'rifni( 


19 


1  to  bi'  i-von 
n'ctoiiHncHS. 
I  .iiul  tV)w»d 
\vliom    tluTo 

.r  duty  lie 
,  will)  slated 
)■  onnii^li  to 
('est  an<l  uel 
no  money  to 

li.ible  to  the 
Sabin's  kind- 
was  s^rantcd. 
Is,  Mr.  Sabin 

to  him  that 
ould  feel  Cen- 
time he  was 
1  to  preach,  a 
me  and  asked 
y\w^  that  his 
ly  Inched  Us 

lines   to    the 
I  Wcstford. 
ant  in  the  po- 
and   was  thus 
acquaintance  ; 

no  one  ques 

absence  from 
.  his  Christian 
iteful  source  of 
vays  ready  to 
in  demand  that 
:d  the  privilei^e 


of  liiiteninjj  instead  of  preaching*,  b  ■  replied  iiiat  he 
had  not  done  it  enouj,'h  to  find  out.  In  the  Liter  years 
of  Ills  life,  he  was  cut  off  from  the  priviloLiis  Df  the 
cluirch,  by  reason  of  infirmities,  for  a  lar^'e  piii  ol  th*^- 
year;  but  with  almost  unbroken  rcf^uKirity,  he  main- 
tained the  family  worship  where  he  lived,  and  in  this 
he  found  great  satisfaction.  He  often  spoke  of  it  as  a 
matter  of  joy  to  him.  As  the  end  drew  nigh,  he  went 
toward  it  without  either  trembling  or  great  joy.  He 
had  long  regarded  it  as  an  event,  to  come ;  as  one 
step  in  his  progress  only,  and  not  the  end  of  anything 
which  was  valuable.  It  was  like  going  on  a  journey, 
expecting  the  family  to  follow  soon.  Or,  to  adapt  the 
words  of  Bryant,  he, 

Sustained  and  Hoothed 
By  uii  luifaltorinn  trust,  iipproiicluMl  his  Kmvn 
Liko  oni!  who  wraps  the  driipHry  of  hin  couch 
About  him,  and  Ii(>H  down  to  ploiiNant  dreainH. 

The  influence  of  his  personal  life  in  Georgia,  has  been 
for  half  a  century  one  of  the  silent,  but  mighty  forces 
of  good.  It  has  been  felt  by  all  classes  and  all  denomin- 
ations. One  Al-son  Witters,  not  a  member  of  the  church, 
used  to  say,  that  when  Elder  Sabin  came,  he  always 
felt  "as  if  God  had  made  'em  a  visit,"  and  all  the  town 
said,  Amen!  His  life  influence  is  a  recognized  antidote  to 
infidelity  ;  a  witness  to  the  truth  which  can  not  be  im- 
peached. Without  comparing  it  to  any  other  type  of 
Christian  life,  it  may  truly  be  said,  that  its  fruits  fully 
justify  the  wisdom  of  Him,  who  through  his  mother  and 
the  surroundings  of  childhood, led  him  in  the  path  as  he 
did,  and  made  the  way  of  his  journey  a  way  of  duty 
and  a  way  of  peace. 


■I, 

11  li 


! 


I' 


20 


/.//<•  t;/  Rev.  Aivah  Sabiii. 


"Men  die,  but  their  words  are  left  on  record;  their 
works  remain,  and  their  example  survives."  He  who 
has  made  a  record  like  that  which  we  are  now  review- 
ing he  who  has  achieved  a  character  like  that  which 
we 'hold  up  to  the  youth  of  the  da;/  may  well  say  when 
the  supreme  hour  arrives.  "I  ha^,^  fought  the  fight.  I 
have  finished  the  course:  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for 
me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord  the  nc^ht- 
eous  Judge  will  give  me  at  that  day." 


1) 


'I 


i   I 


«t 


W.x\ 


Education. 


21 


record  ;  their 
s."  He  who 
now  review- 
e  that  which 
well  say  when 
the  fight,  I 
;  is  laid  up  for 
,ord  the  ric'ht- 


CHAFIER  II. 

EDUCATION. 

He  had  good  home  instruction.  But  the  oppor- 
tunities for  schools  were  meager.  That  he  made  good 
use  of  them  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  he  and  his 
brother  both  became  teachers  in  the  district  schools  of 
their  town, and  he  taught  in  one  district  seven  sessions. 
It  was  a  matter  of  frequent  mention  by  him,  that  his 
early  education  was  deficient.  But  a  study  of  the  rec- 
ords, which  he,  as  clerk  of  the  church,  wrote,  does  not 
sustain  the  self-accusation.  They  are  in  good  shape. 
But  if  this  were  so,  he,  by  a  life-long  study,  to  a  very 
large  extent  supplied  the  lack.  His  information  was 
obtained  under  difficulties,  but  the  mental  discipline 
thus  gained  more  than  compensated  for  the  lack  of  fin- 
ish which  the  schools  might  have  afiforded  him.  He 
learned  to  read  in  the  district  schools  of  Georgia, 
taught  by  Archibald  Hyde,  the  old  collector  of  cus- 
toms at  Burlington,  Vt.  The  book  used  was,  Morse's 
Geography.  This  was  a  book  without  illustrations  or 
maps,  and  he  read  it  through  and  through  until  he  was 
familiar  with  every  word,  though  he  had  dim  ideas  of 
the  location  of  the  countries  or  cities  spoken  of.  He 
acquired  the  habit,  however,  of  reading  with  ease  and 
pleasure.  In  a  facetious  manner,  he  once  described 
the  schools  of  his  boyhood : 

'  'The  school-houses  were  log  or   plank  houses,   with 
broad  open  fire  pbces,  the  seats   were   made   of   slabs 


22  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

from  the  sa^v  mill,  put  in  .vith  the  bark  side  do.^n.  and 
held  up  by  legs  at  the  ends  and  one  support  m  the  cen- 
ter      The  tables  were  rough  boards,  rurn.nc  along  the 
side  of  the  house,  so  that  one  could  sit  feeing  the  wall, 
and  write,  or  face  the  fire  place,  and  study    h>s  lesson^ 
The    ruler,    as    it   was    called,    was   an    .nd.spen.able 
thing.     Why  it  was  called  the  ruler.  1  do   not    know, 
unless  it  was  because   the   ever   ready   ruler    of    the 
school,  was  used    to  enforce  the    rule  of  the    schooL 
They   ferruled    the  boy  who  had    whispered,  or  stuck 
a    pin  into     the    side    of    his    fellow,    or    pulled    the 
hair  of  the  boy  who   sat    before   him   or  threw   paper 
balls  at  the  girls  on   the  opposite    side  of  the  room^ 
The  only  restraint  in  all  the  nameless  offenses  which 
boys  can  conjure  up  was  the  ever  ready  ruler.     When 
a  boy  was  detected  in  any  of  these  tr.cks.  he  imme- 
diately showed   great  sorrow-that   he  was  detected^ 
And  when   'called  up.'  as  the  phrase  was.  he  sn.velled 
and  winced  until  the  blows  were  ended   and   hen  went 
back  to  his  seat,shaking  his  head  at  the  boy  who  told  on 
him,'  as  much  as  to  say.  'I  will  give  you  a  l.ck.ng  when 
we  get  out  of  school.'     Yet   they   were    very   happy 

"^^^'in  those  times  such  a  thing  as  a  steel  pen  was 
never  thought  of.  much  less  the  beautiful  pliant  go^d 
pen  with  the  ebony  handle  and  gold  trimmmgs.  The 
native  quill  of  the  goose  was  the  standing  material, 
and,  by  the  way.  when  it  was  made  right,  it  was  as 
as  good  a  pen  as  was  ever  put  on  paper.  But  the  slope 
of  the  sides,  and  the  split  of  the  point  and  the  cut  of 
the  nib  required  a  good  knife  and  a  mechanical  eye 
But  oftentimes  the  quill  would  be  a  most  indifferent 
one      You  could  hardly  tell  whether  it  was  a  quill  or  a 


Education. 


down,  and 
t  in  the  cen- 
[;  alonp  the 
njf  the  wall, 

his  lesson, 
idispensable 

not  know, 
ler  of  the 
the  school, 
ed,  or  stuck 

pulled  the 
:hrew  paper 
f  the  room. 
Tenses  which 
jler.  When 
ks,  he  imme- 
^'as  detected. 
,  he  snivelled 
nd  then  went 
\f  who 'told  on 

licking  when 

very   happy 

steel  pen  was 
il  pliant  gold 
nmings.  The 
ding  material, 
ght,  it  was  as 
But  the  slope 
nd  the  cut  of 
lechanical  eye. 
lost  indifferent 
vas  a  quill  or  a 


feather.  Sometimes  a  boy  would  have  a  turkey  ([uill, 
or  even  a  crow  quill.  Happy  the  boy  who  could  get 
the  royal  quill  of  the  eagle.  Then  the  knife  migiit  be 
an  old  jack-knife — hardly  sharp  enough  to  cut  cold 
butter.  The  hero  of  the  quill  would  make  all  ])os 
sible  preparation  for  the  work,  by  honeiiig  his  knife  on 
the  toj)  of  iiis  boot.  Then  the  pen  is  made  as  perfect- 
ly as  the  best  judge  in  the  world  could  expect — under 
the  circumstances — and  the  nib  is  cut  off  wide  enough 
to  write  an  advertisement  on  the  side  of  a  barn.  When 
a  he  came  to  use  it,  he  found  that  the  hair  stroke 
was  not  very  fine,  but  he  would  atone  for  this 
by  writing  out  the  whole  page  as  fast  as  he  could, 
and  then  brag  over  his  neighbor  that  he  was  through 
first. 

"Then  the  ink  was  not  that  perfect,  uniform,  limpid 
fluid  of  this  day  ;  but  was  a  decoction,  gotten  up  by 
the  scholars  themselves,  made  of  soft  maple  bark,  and 
sumach  berries,  and  logwood.  Sometimes  it  was  thick 
and  muddy,  anil  sometimes  it  was  too  pale,  and,  as  the 
word  was,  'it  won't  shed  good.'  The  inkstand  was  a 
manufacture  of  their  own,  made  usually  of  pewter,  but 
the  odd  and  comical  shapes  were  legion.  These  were 
filled  with  cotton  or  lint,  to  absorb  the  ink  and  prevent 
its  spilling,  if  tipped  over.  The  pen  was  put  into  the 
stand  and  drawn  out  by  a  side  motion,  so  as  to  com- 
press the  lint  and  get  ink  on  the  pen.  Yet  there  were 
as  many  good  writers  then  as  now,  in  proportion  to 
numbers. 

"There  were  not  so  many  books  as  now.  Few  peo- 
ple took  any  kind  of  a  periodical.  The  result  was  that 
they  were  very  familiar  with  what  they  had.  The 
scholars  became  good  readers.      And.   as  to  spelling, 


''  t 


I 


H 


V 


2^  Life  of  Rev.  Alva/i  Sabin 

they  were  far  better  informed  than  they  are  now.  I'he 
'spelling  school'  was  an  institution  of  that  rc',non,  and 
many  schools  boasted,  that  they  had  scholars  who 
could  spell  every  word  in  the  spelling  book. 

"In  geography,  Dwight's  was   used  after    Morse's. 
This  was  written  with  questions  and  answers,  and  with 
out  maps.      We  had  little  idea  of  the  places,  but  there 
were  many  who  learned  enough  geography,  to   stay  at 
home  and  mind  their  own  business. 

"At  that  time  they  had  no  books  of  mental  arithme- 
tic, but  the  lack  was  supplied  by  all  sorts  of  mathemat- 
ical pu/zles.and  by  oral  instruction.  They  did  not  go  so 
far  in  arithmetic  as  they  do  now.  but  they  thoroughly 
understood  the  four  ground  rules,  and  '  practice'  and 
interest,  and  the  'rule  of  three. 

"Grammar  was  taught  superficially,  if  at  all.  But  we 
learned  to  communicate  our  ideas,  so  that  all  who 
wished  to  understand  them  could  do  so.  and  that  is 
about  as  well  as  the  learned  can  do  in  these  days. 
One  thing  is  certain,  limited  opportunities  well  im- 
proved are  more  beneficial  to  the  individual  than  great 
opportunities  unimproved. 

"As  for  the  fine  arts,  they  consisted  in  good  voices 
and  comely  faces.  These  were  good  substitutes  for 
water  colors,  and  organs  and  pianos.  Fine  boys  and 
girls  well  brought  up  are  the  best  specimens  of  the  fine 
arts  that  the  country  affords. 

-In  Georgia  as  long  ago  as  1812-16.  the  schools  were 
much  larger  than  they  are  now  and  there  was  more  zeal 
and  competition  than  at  present.  The  select  schools 
that  were  kept  up  from  about  1818  to  1830  were  of  the 
best  character,  and  they  told  upon  the  minds  of  young 
men  who  have   since  then   made   their    mark    in    the 


Education. 


25 


now.  The 
region,  and 
holars    who 

:r    Morse's. 
s,  and  with 
;,  but  there 
,  to   stay  at 

ital  arithnie- 
f  matheinat- 
lid  not  go  so 
thoroughly 
ractice'    and 

:  all.  But  we 
hat  all  who 
and  that  is 
these  days, 
ties  well  im- 
il  than  great 

good  voices 
ibstitutes  for 
ne  boys  and 
ns  of  the  fine 

schools  were 
tvas  more  zeal 
lelect  schools 
(o  were  of  the 
nds  of  young 
mark    in    the 


world,  riio  teachers  were  Mr.  Rolph.  Mr.  Dodge.  Mr. 
Calvin  Pease,  Mr.  Wood.  Mr.  Blackm.ln,  Mr.  Robin- 
son, and  several  more  of  later  date." 

It  will  be  seen  from  these  memories  of  his  that  though 
information  was  not  so  much  imparted  in  his  day,  yet 
discipline  of  mind  was  in  some  good  measure  secured. 
But  the  schools  of  that  town  in  18 18- 1830  were  not  the 
schools  of  his  boyhood.  He  was  23  years  old  in  1816. 
His  common  .school  instruction  was  over.  We  shall 
see  hereafter  how  the  schools  of  the  town  were  im- 
proved through  his  agency.  He  was  his  own  instructor 
mainly. 

He  read  trigonometry  and  astronomy  quite  thor  ■ 
oughly,  and  was  familiar  with  the  problems  of  geo- 
metry. In  astronomy  he  found  many  terms  that  were 
Greek  In  order  to  understand  them  he  secured  a 
dictionary,  and  made  it  his  fixed  rule  not  to  pass  a  word 
without  understanding  it.  And  even  if  it  took  a  half  day 
to  read  a  page,  nevertheless  it  was  carefully  read.  This 
work  without  a  teacher  was  laborious,  yet  he  said  of  it 
that  as  late  as  1856.  forty  years  after,  when  he  attended 
a  course  of  lectures  upon  astronomy  in  Washington,  by 
Professor  Mitchell,  of  Cincinnati,  he  could  recall  his 
former  study,  and  found  himself  so  in  the  possession 
of  the  terminology  and  general  principles,  that  he  could 
follow  the  lecture  with  ease. 

When  he  was  14  years  old,  Rev.  Roswell  Mears  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  Georgia  (1807). 
He  took  a  warm  interest  in  the  young  lad,  and,  as  they 
lived  near  together,  the  library  of  the  pastor  was  often 
visited.  The  following  years  it  was  a  habit  of  the  young 
man  to  borrow  a  book  and  read  it  carefully,  then  make 
an  analysis  of  it.  and  go  down  to  the  pastor,  and  try  to 


I' 

If 


r 


26 


Lt/e  of  Rev.  Ah  ah  Sahin. 


1 1 

I, "I 


fillip 


ropcat     tlu'     arj^ument     of    the     book      in     his     own 
words.      At   first   it  was  rather  unsatisfactory  work   to 
both  parties,  but  after  a   Httle  practice  he  learned    to 
^rasp  the  saUent  ideas  of  a  book,  and  his  jiower  of  ex- 
pression ^rew  until  that  he  could  with  remarkable  clear 
ness  and  accuracy  give  the  substance  of  a  volume.      In 
this  way  he  read  "Burders'  Oriental  Customs,"  "Watt's 
Lojric,"  "Blair's  Rhetoric/'    "Edwards  on  the  Will.  " 
and  other  works.      A  Bible   dictionary  w^is    also    quite 
thoroughly    read  after  that  fashion.     Thus  before  he 
was  a  member  of  the  church  he  was  interested  with  the 
study    of  the    literature  of  the    Bible.     This    habit  of 
analyzing  the    books    which    he   read    went   with   him 
through  life.      When  he  was  ninety-one  years  old,   the 
writer  heard  him  give  the  skeleton  of  a    work  on  the 
public  life  of  John  Adams  as  clearly,  as  if  he  was  in  an 
examination  in  school,  and  yet  it  was  brought  up  in  the 
ordinary  discussion  of  books  as  we  were  looking  over 
his  library  one  day.      Undoubtedly  the   logical  faculty 
was  strong  in  him  by  nature,  but  this  culture  of  it  made 
it  a  source  of  strength  to  him.      In  conversation  it  was 
notable  that  he  discussed  all  matters  in  a  systematic 
way.      If  he  was  asked  a  question,    his  answer  would 
be  divided  into  parts.    If  asked  for  reasons  of  anything, 
they  would  be  given  in  the  order  of  their  importance. 
And  yet  there  was  no  apparent   effort  to  so  arrange 
them.       It   was  an  instinctive   habit    of    his  to    think 
logically. 

After  his  mind  was  made  up  to  enter  the  ministry, 
he  at  once  became  anxious  about  an  education.  But 
there  were  great  difficulties  in  the  way  of  his  pursuing 
a  course  of  theological  training.  He  was  22  or  23 
years    old.      He  was  not  financially  able  to  afiford    it, 


....,.,,^4a.-,.,^ji,,ir.:.-j^rj.«M-3-#;=i«r.v«k^^;'»««> 


.■»i«»-a3!SM<r*fe»a!>J>»»«!K!aiP»?»^  a«r._»iJH»«i«*i«i. 


hiiucation. 


27 


lis  own 
work  to 
irncd  to 
cr  of  cx- 
jIc  clear 
me.      In 

"Watt's 
ic  Will." 
so  quite 
)cforc  he 

with  the 

habit  of 
vith   him 

old,  the 
-k  on  the 
was  in  an 

up  in  the 
:ing  over 
al  faculty 
)f  it  made 
on  it  was 
ystcmatic 
'er  would 
anything, 
portance. 
o  arrange 

to    think 

ministry, 
ion.  But 
>  pursuing 
22    or    23 

afiford    it, 


though  his  mother  was  in  favor  of  it,  and  Klder  Me.irs, 
although  not  a  man  of  the  schools  himself,  was  yet 
fully  in  sympathy  with  them.  Yet  the  prevailing 
sentiment  of  the  time  was  that  if  a  man  thought  him 
self  called  to  preach,  he  ought  to  begin  at  once,  and 
trust  God  to  supply  the  wisdom  and  power.  When 
it  was  found  by  the  brethren  that  he  was  determined 
to  go  to  the  theological  institution,  several  objected. 
and  charged  him  with  departure  from  the  gospel  rule, ami 
insisted  that  he  ought  to  be  suspended  from  church 
fellowship,  until  he  abandoned  the  purpose.  t3f  this 
he  wrote  in  the  following  words,  which  are  given  not 
only  to  show  the  facts  in  the  case,  but  to  show  the  fair 
and  kind  spirit  w  ith  which  he  viewed  the  matter  : 

"This  was  at  a  time  when  the  prilicy  of  establishing 
theological  institutions  by  Baptists  was  by  no  means 
settled.  Brethren  honestly  differed  in  their  opinions 
and  the  subject  was  discussed  with  warmth  and  earnest 
ness.  One  party  claimed  that  devoting  several  years  of 
time  to  study  after  professing  to  have  had  a  call  from 
God  to  preach,  was  practically  denying  the  special  call 
to  preach  ;  that  it  was  adopting  the  view  of  the  Pedo- 
baptists  ;  and  would  lead  to  the  practice  of  writing 
sermons,  and  reading  them  from  the  pulpit  ;  and  would 
convert  preaching  into  a  worldly  profession, on  the  same 
level  as  the  law  or  medicine.  I  think  that  every 
minister  in  tlie  Fairfield  Associatii)n  was  opposed  to 
the  plan  of  sustaining  theological  schools.* 


■'From  the  mention  iiiaih!  of  tlu-  encouragement  which  Elder 
Mears  gave  him  to  enter  the  ministry,  and  some  seeming  harniony 
of  action  between  hiin  and  IVofessor  Chase,  I  am  convinced  tliat 
exc(!ption  siioiild  be  made  to  this  statement  in  the  case  of  Elder 
Mears.  He  had  felt  the  same  reluctance  to  enter  the  work  un- 
prepared, and  was  the  friend  of  Mr.  Sabin  through  the  whole  time 
of  the  trial.— .[EuiTOR. 


B^— ^^'iR^S^-i*"'''*?*^  '"^ 


IT" 


M": 


28 


/jfr  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


"The  other  part  of  the  church  took  the  view  that  a 
call  to  preach  was  a  call  to  take    a   rational  view  of  the 
whole  subject.     They  said  a  young  man  or  boy  may  be 
called   to     preach,    but     with   his     present     age    and 
knowledge  of  the  scriptures,  taking  his  whole  life  work 
into  consideration,  will  he  not  do  more  good,  and  have 
more  Christian  influence,  and  be  better  able  to  meet 
sophistical  arguments  of  infidels,  if  he  devotes  a  portion 
of  his  time  in  his  youth  to  the  study  of  the  Bible  under 
the  tuition  of  experienced,  able  and  learned  ministers, 
and  the  reading  of  the  Bible  in  the  tongues  in  which  it 
was  written,  with  all  the  light  that  can  be  thrown  by 
oriental  history  upon  the  customs  and  peculiarities  of 
the  people  to  whom  the   revelation  was  made  ?     They 
did  not  think  that  every  minister  should  attend  an  m- 
stitution.     Like  Paul,  one  may  be  learned  in  scripture 
before  his  call.     If  so,  he  is  to  sanctify  his  learning  to 
Jesus,   and  devote   himself  immediately  to  preaching. 
Others  may   be  converted   later  in  life  and  in  circum- 
stances which  render  it  inexpedient  to  attempt  such  a 
course.     And  all  theological   students  should   in  their 
judgment  as  far  as  practicable,   preach  Christ  during 
the  time  of  their  study."     Such  was  the  opposition  he 
met.  Yet  he  was  not  convinced  that  he  ought  to  aban- 
don either  the  ministry  or  the  education. 

When  he  was  deciding  the  question  of  his  duty  to 
enter  the  ministry,  he  said  that  the  chief  obstacle  was 
the  thought  that  a  white-headed  and  unexperienced  boy 
like  himself  was  incompetent  to  teach  men  and  women 
older  than  he  the  things  of  the  gospel.  And  to  think 
of  attempting  it  without  more  education  than  he  had 
was  a  thing  he  could  not  easily  make  up  his  mind  to  do. 
Yet  the  way  did  not  open  for  some  time. 


Education. 


29 


•w  that  a 
;w  of  the 
y  may  be 
age    and 
Hfe  work 
and  have 
to  meet 
a  portion 
ble  under 
ministers, 
r>  which  it 
hrown  by 
iarities  of 
e  ?     They 
:nd  an  in- 
i  scripture 
larning  to 
ireaching. 
in  circum- 
pt  such  a 
d  in  their 
ist  during 
)osition  he 
It  to  aban- 

is  duty  to 
jstacle  was 
ienced  boy 
,nd  women 
id  to  think 
lan  he  had 
nind  to  do. 


Meanwhile  he  was  not  wasting  his  time.  I'-lclcr  Mears 
proposed  that  the  question  of  allowing  him  tn  "exor- 
cise his  gift"  as  the  church  might  have  need,  should  be 
submitted  to  them.  This  was  done  and  they  thought 
it  wise  to  do  so,  as  the  record  shows : 

March  27,  1817. — Voted  to  open  a  door  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  gift  of  Alvah  Sabin  in  public,  that  we 
may  judge  whether  it  will  be  suitable  to  license  him  to 
preach  the  gospel  in  the  future. 

Hut  a  license  to  preach,  in  those  days,  was  not 
granted  without  fair  trial.  We  do  not  find  any  allusion 
to  this  case  until  the  following  record  : 

January  9,  1819. — Discussed  upon  the  past  improve- 
ment of  Bro.  Alvah  Sabin  in  public.  Voted,  that  they 
had  been  perfectly  satisfied,  and  manifested  a  desire 
that  he  should  continue  in  his  labors. 

Almost  two  years  of  "exercising  his  gifts,"  and  then 
he  fared  better  ^han  his  cousin.  Joseph  Ballard,  who 
was  remanded  for  a  new  trial. 

He  was  engaged  to  teach  school  the  winter 
1 8 16-17,  in  the  "  Ballard  district."  And  he 
went  to  the  St.  Albans  book  store,  kept  by  Judge 
Janes,  and  told  the  Judge  if  he  would  let  him  have  a 
copy  of  Scott's  Commentaries,  he  would  pay  him  in  the 
spring  when  he  should  have  received  his  pay  for  teach- 
ing. This  he  readily  consented  to  do.  The  price  was 
twenty- five  dollars,  and  he  gladly  took  the  books.  For 
the  kindness  thus  shown  him  he  always  retained  a  lively 
sense  of  gratitude.  It  was  a  snowy  day  in  November 
18 16,  and  he  was  on  horseback.  When  the  Judge 
handed  the  books  up  to  him  he  .said.  "Young  man,  you 
have  a  rich  Hbrary  that  few  enjoy."  He  carried  them 
home  on   the  pommel   of  the  saddle,  and  his  mother 


Mi'' 


t% 


^^J  U/f  of  licv.  Alva/t  Sabin. 

came  out  and  took  them  from  his  hand  and  carried  then, 
in.      He   used   to  recall  the  joy  of  that  day       He  said 
that  as  tiie  boks  lay   upon   the  table  they  looked  like 
the  richest  treasure  he  had   ever   possessed,  and  he  re 
solved  to  make  the  best  use  of  thesr  precious  volumes 
that  he  could.     At  this  time   Elder  Mears  was  preach 
ing  one-half  the  time  at  Swanton.     It  was  the  custom 
to   have   a     conference     meetinfj    on    Sunday.     And 
they  asked  Mr.   Sabin    to  lead    these    meetin^js.      He 
pursued  his  own  course  in  doing  it.      He  w.ni'.d  select 
some   narrative    or   parable    from  the  scripture,   read 
carefully  the  commentary  on  the  passage,  and  look  up 
the  customs  and   figures   that  were  connected  with  it. 
and   then    explain    the   meaning,    adding    such     prac- 
tical exhortations  as  were  suggested.     This  ht  did  for 
several   months,   and   was  so  successful   in  it  that  th»; 
congregation  did  not  fall  off  on  those  Sundays  when 
the  pastor  was  absent.    But  he  was  not  satisfied  to  con- 
tinue this  work  without  further  stuc'v  under  teachers. 
The  summer  of  1817  he  went  to   the  meeting  of  the 
Fairfield  Association  at  Morriston,  and  \\\v\~  there  be- 
came acquainted  with   Ira  Chase,  a  son  of  Dea.  Isaac 
Chase  of  Westford.      He  was  a  graduate  of  Middlebury 
College  and  was  at  that  time  a  student  in    Andover 
Theological  Seminary.     Through  the  influence  of  Mr. 
Chase   (who.    by   the    way.   was   afterwards   Professor 
Chase,  of  Philadelphia,  and    first  President  of  Newton 
Theological  Seminary),   he  decided  to  attempt  a  thor- 
ough course  of  instruction.     He  was  made  acquamted 
with  Peter  Chase,   a  brother  of  Ira.  and  together  they 
planned  to  go  to  Burlington  College.     This  they  did 
about   the  first   of  September.  1817.     They  rented  a 
room  and   arranged   to  buy  their  provisions,  and  h.re 


T.  v-^~K".:"i:'"^^^"=v»"'r'>?^'*-^"-*^ 


-  itf>^»^jy;iyiB«a»  jaftar-v.  ra  jSgscSt^yit^^-iw^V'''^^ 


Rducatton. 


3 


rictl  tlieni 
lie  said 
)ol<ccl  like 
irni  lie  re 
s  volumes 
as  preach- 
he  custom 
lay.  And 
in^js.  He 
iird  select 
ture,  read 
id  look  up 
;d  with  it, 
uch     prac- 

1k  did  for 

it  that  the 
days  when 
led  to  con- 
:r  teachers, 
ting  of  the 
w-  there  be- 

Des.  Isaac 
Middlebury 
n  Andover 
;nce  of  Mr. 
s    Professor 

of  Newton 
npt  a  thor- 

acquainted 
jether  they 
lis  they  did 
;y  rented  a 
IS,  and  hire 


so"ine  woman  in  the  neighborhood  to  cook  for  tlicm. 
He  found  that  to  study  in  the  waj-  of  the  schools  and 
recite  after  tlu-ir  fashicjn  was  a  difficult  thing  for  him, 
and  he  felt  ashamed  and  dejected,  but  he  continued  the 
study  three  months.  At  that  time  it  was  evident  he 
could  not  well  meet  the  expense  of  a  longer  stay  in 
Burlington,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  home.  Hut 
lie  did  not  give  up  his  study.  He  went  to  Gardiner 
Childs,  ICsq.,  an  educated  lawyer  in  Georgia,  and  ar 
ranged  with  him  for  private  instruction.  In  this  way 
he  continued  until  spring  r8i8.  though  on  account  of 
many  home  cares  in  connection  with  the  farm,  the 
winter's  work  was  not  very  satisfactory  to  him.  In  the 
s|)ring,  in  order  to  get  the  benefit  of  school  nearer 
home,  he  and  Peter  Chase  planned  to  have  one  of  the 
students  of  the  college  come  up  and  start  a  "select 
school,"  as  it  was  called,  in  Georgia,  and  thus  enable 
them  to  board  near,  or  at  home.  They  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  a  Mr.  Rolph.  Mr.  Sabin  then  hired  an  empty 
store  at  the  "Center,"  and  thoroughly  canvassed  the 
town  for  scholars.  To  help  pay  the  tuition  for  himself, 
his  mother  took  the  teacher  into  the  family  to  board, 
and  also  some  of  the  scholars.  The  farm  was  rented 
and  he  took  the  charge  of  the  business  of  the  school. 
This  was  continued  during  the  summer  and  the  follow- 
ing winter  (1818-1819).  Out  of  this  effort  grew  an  in- 
terest which  developed  into  the  Georgia  Academy. 
The  summer  of  18 19  was  spent  at  home  in  earnest 
preparation,  and  somewhat  anxious  expectation  of  the 
trip  to  the  Seminary  at  Philadelphia. 

We  have'  already  made  mention  of  the  discussion 
which  was  going  on  in  the  denomination  about  the 
wisdom  of  supporting  theological  schools.       This  had 


K3i-3ns^t»»^V''A^«*^'f 


^2  Ufe  of  Rn>.  Alvalt  Sahiii. 

bc-cn  !).  fore  the  whole  dcnoinincition.     At  .i  meeting,'  of 
the   "General   Missionary  Convention."  held    in   Tliila 
delphia  in  1H17.  the  matter   was    under  discussion,  and 
it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the   motive  which  was  first 
in  awakening  an   interest  was   the  foreign    missionary 
motive.      Rev.  Luther  Rice,    the  contemporary  of  Dr 
Judson,  and  perhaps  the  ecpial  benefactor  of  the  heath 
en    nations,    was   in    tins  country  visiting  the  churches 
and  exhortin;^  them  to  missionary  effort.      1  le  had  lum- 
self   been    leil   to   accept  liaptist  views  by  the  stud>'   of 
the  Bible  in  the   ori'^inal   lan^Hia{,'es.      He  was  anxious 
to  yet  men  to  go  as  missionaries  who  could  read  in  the 
original  for  their  own  instruction,    and  also   translate 
from   that     into    the    languages    of   the    iieathen  ;    but 
there  was  at  this  time  only  one  school  of  higher  learn- 
ing under   Baptist   control.      Ihat  was  Brown  Univer- 
sity, at  Providence,  which  had  been  in  existence  since 
1765,  but  was  known  as  "Rhode    Island  College"  until 
1804',  and  this  had   no  theological  instructors.      It  was 
necessary   therefore  to  have  colleges  and    theological 
seminaries  to  train  the  men  for  che  foreign  work.     The 
interest  in  this  work  was  thus  the  means  of  quickening 
all    activities.       At    this    meeting  of    the    convention 
Dr.    Furman,    the    President,   addressed   the   body  on 
the  subject  of  education.     The  board   was  authorized 
when  the  funds  for  that    purpose   became     sufficient, 
for  it  "to  mstitute  a   Classical   and   Theological  Semi- 
nary." 

In  July  of  the  same  year  1817.  th-  Education 
Society  of  Philadelphia  offered  to  the  board  their  co- 
operation in  the  work.  In  August.  1818.  Dr.  Wm. 
Stoughton  was  elected  President  of  the  proposed  in- 
stitution, and  Rev.    Ira  Chase.  Profes,sor  of  Languages 


a 
r 

I 
r 

t 
t 

a 
t 
li 
c 

y 

o 

tl 

Ic 
w 

tl 

fa 
T 
h 
b( 
at 
re 
H 
Si 
w 
ar 

Cli 


gl^ 


Eiiiiiiition. 


:-<i 


[nortinjj  of 

1    in    IMiila- 
Lissioii,  .ind 
li   was  first 
iiiissi(inary 
ary  of  Dr 
the  luath- 
if  cluirclus 
Ic  luul  liiin- 
iic  stud)'   of 
'as  anxious 
read  in  til e 
lo   transiate 
athcn  ;    but 
ighcr  karn- 
wn  Univer- 
itencc  since 
lUcffc"  until 
rs.      It  was 
theological 
tvork.     The 
quickening 
convention 
le   body  on 
authorized 
sufficient, 
igical  Semi- 
Education 
-d  their  co- 
,    Dr.   Wm. 
roposed  in- 
Languages 


and  IHblical  I.  tjraturc.  The  instruction  was  com- 
menced in  Philadelphia  in  a  private  house  hired  for  the 
purpose.  This  institution  was  the  first  tiieological  se- 
minary, strictly  so-calleil,  am(.ng  Haptists  in  the  United 
States.  It  was  soon  moved  to  Washington  and 
became  Columbian  College.  To  this  seminary,  born 
the  same  year  that  he  began  his  preparation  f..r  such 
a  school,  and  having  as  its  first  teacher  of  languages 
the  man  who  had  persuaded  him  to  attempt  the  course, 
he  went  in  December,  i8iy.  He  was  one  of  the 
eleven  who  constituted  the  first  graduating  class  in  the 
year  1821. 

He  had  for  a  long  time  been  engaged  to  the  daughter 
of  Elder  Mear.s,*and,  before  leaving  for  Philadelphia, 
they  were  married  on  November  14,  18 19. 

His  journey   to    Philadelphia    he  described  as    fol- 
lows:    "I  started    about  the   15th    of    December.      I 
went  by  stage  all  the  way.     This  was  the  first  time 
that  I  had  ever  set  foot  in  a  public  coach.     I  paid  my 
fare  from  one  stage  office  to  the  other  until  I  reached 
Troy,    N.    Y.     From    there  I  paid  to    the  Northern 
Hotel,    New  York  City.     About  4  o'clock  p.   m.,  a 
boatman  rowed  me  over  the  Hudson  to  the  Jersey  side 
and  there  I  took  the  stage  for  Philadelphia,  which  we 
reached  at  five  in  the  morning.     I  stopped  at  the  Stage 
Hotel  on  Market  Street.     In  the  morning  I   found  d't. 
Stoughton,  and  he  sent  me  to  Professor  Chase's  room, 
who  showed  me  the  house  where  the  school  was  held, 
and  there  I  found  my  friend  Peter  Chase.     We  had  a 
class  of  twenty,  and  we  went  in  two  years  over  the 

*  An  account  of  this  estimable  woman,  in  his  own  langiiatte  is 
given  in  Chapter  VIII.  '  ' 


2^  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

same  course  that  was  pursued  at  Andover  Seminary. 
We  were  pressed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and 
none  of  us  could  boast  great  thoroughness.     At  the 
close  of  the  course  there  was  an  examination  in  all  the 
branches  that  had   been  studied,   and  an  exegesis  of 
some  passage  of  scripture.    That  which  I  presented  was 
on  I.  Cor.  xi,io:  'For  this  cause  ought  the  woman  to 
have  power   on  her  head  because  of   the  angels.'     I 
explained  it  as  if  it  read,  'for  this  cause  ought  the  wo- 
man to  have  the  symbol  of  being  under  power,'  that  is, 
the  wearing  of  long  hair,   because   of  the    spies  that 
enter  your  congregations  to  spy  out   your  liberty  in 
disregarding  some   of  the    customs    of  society.     The 
paper  was  printed  and  may  be  found   in  the  Later  Day 
Seminar^'  of  that  date.    I  received  after  my  graduation 
an  appointment  from  the  Philadelphia  Association  as  a 
missionary  for  three  months  in  Northern  Vermont  and 
Lower  Canada.     Bro.  Peter  Chase  and  I  sent  our  bag- 
gage to  New  York,  while  we  went  via  Bordentown  to 
N  Y  ,  and  thence  by  boat  to  Troy.     From  there  send- 
ing  our  baggage,   we   started  on    foot.     We    walked 
the  first  twenty  miles  as  quick  as  two  good  horses,  but 
that  night  we  took  cold  in   a   fireless  room,  and  the 
next  day  my  feet  became  sore,  and  I  walked  like  an  old 
jaded  horse,  but  we  had  no  money  to  pay  for  a  ride. 
When  we  reached  White  Hall  we  took  a  boat  to  Bur- 
lington, and  from  there   we  walked  home.     The  first 
house  we  called  at  was  my  Uncle  Henry  Ballard's.     He 
took  me  in  his  wagon  and  drove  to  my  old  home,  where 
I  met  again  my  mother  and  my  wife,  and  a  son  about  a 
year  old  whom  I  had  not  seen  before." 

This  closes  the  account  of  his  school  days.     If  they 
were  not  all  that  he  could  wish,  they  were  nevertheless 


:r  Seminary. 
)ossible,  and 
:ss.  At  the 
ion  in  all  the 

exegesis  of 
iresented  was 
;he  woman  to 
e  angels.'     I 
>ught  the  wo- 
)wer,'  that  is, 
le    spies  that 
lur  liberty  in 
lociety.     The 
the  Later  Day 
r\y  graduation 
50ciation  as  a 
Vermont  and 
sent  our  bag- 
iordentown  to 
•m  there  send- 

We    walked 
od  horses,  but 
oom,  and  the 
ced  like  an  old 
»ay  for  a  ride, 
a  boat  to  Bur- 
ne.     The  first 
Ballard's.     He 
d  home,  where 
d  a  son  about  a 

days.     If  they 
re  nevertheless 


Education.  ^g 

of  great  value  and  satisfaction  to  him.  He  was  always 
a  friend  to  schools,  and  a  helper  to  young  men  de- 
sinng  an  education.  His  own  children  and  his 
grand-children  were  encouraged  to  seek  a  liberal 
training,  and  if  any  of  them  failed,  it  was  not  through 
his  want  of  sympathy,  and  as  much  aid  as  he  could 
lurnish. 

There  was  one  effect  which  his  hurried  course  to- 
gether with  the  enforced  habits  of  after  life  had  upon 
him.     He  was  a  thinker,  rather  than  a  reader 

Very  few  quotations  found  place  in  his  sermons  or 
conversation.     He   read,    but   what   he   retained   wa 
the  substance,  not  the  words.     His  library  showed  his 

Tec  e  ;"k  r  '  -^'^  '°''^  °'  ^^^^'•--  --^  well  se- 
lected   but  not  m  great  abundance.     One  author  on  a 

subject  was  sufficient.  From  him  he  could  get  the 
facts  ;  the  conclusions  he  made  for  himself.  He  knew 
men.  He  had  a  good  memory  of  incidents,  a  clear  con- 
ception of  principles,  and  these  furnished  his  tools  for 
work.  It  may  truly  be  said  that  he  was  not  a  learned 
man,  but  a  wise  and  an  educated  man. 


■a 


36 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


\v 


CHAPTER  III.   ■ 

ENTRANCE  TO  THE   MINISTRY. 

This  embraces  three  steps :  The  revelation  to  him 
of  the  divine  wish  in  the  matter  ;  the  acquiescence  of 
the  church  ;  and  the  formal  ordination. 

The  Call. 

He  was  one  of  whom   it  could  be  truly  and  without 
controversy,   said,  that   "God  separated  him  from  his 
mother's  womb"  unto  his  service.   And  although  he  was 
not  conscious  of  the  direction  in  which  the  current  of  his 
life  was  bearing  him,  yet,  to  us  at  this  day,  its  early 
movements  are  very  easily  traced.     The  eyes  of  his 
pastor  saw  the  signs  of  a  preacher  in  the  tow-headed 
boy  who  took  so  much  interest  in  the  study  of  religious 
books.     We  have  already  noticed  the  fact  that  he  had 
religious  life  several  years  before  he  was  a  member  of 
the  church.     His  reading  was  upon  those  topics  which 
are   associated  with    the  scripture.      When  he    was 
fifteen  years  old  a  man  named  Abel  Laflin,  who  pro- 
fessed to  be  a  Deist,  boarded  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Sa- 
bin.    In  the  evenings  at  the  fireside  he  was  given  to 
berating  Christians,   and  asserting  his  deistical  ideas. 
The  boy  took  up  the  gauntlet  against  him,  and  spoke 
with  earnestness  of  the  Christian  faith.     He  was  able 
to  silence  his  fellow  workman,  who  was  astonished  to 
find  so  zealous  a  defender  in  one  not  professing  to  be 
a  Christian,  and  said  to  him,  "What  business  have  you 


if 
er 
it 

lie 
h: 
in 
be 
he 

V^ 
dc 
th 
br 
to 
wc 
he 

th( 

no 

sai 

of 

tor 

kn( 

ser 

1 
wit 
ary 

1 
Isr; 
bo] 
woi 


on  to  him 
iescence  of 


.nd  without 
im  from  his 
)ugh  he  was 
irrent  of  his 
y,  its  early 
eyes  of  his 
tow-headed 
of  religious 
that  he  had 
.  member  of 
topics  which 
len  he    was 
n,  who  pro- 
of Mrs.  Sa- 
tvas  given  to 
istical  ideas. 
^,  and  spoke 
He  was  able 
istonished  to 
fessing  to  be 
iess  have  you 


Entrance  to  the  Ministry.  37 

with  these  arguments?  You  are  not  a  church  member." 
"  Well,"  said  the  young  man,  "religion  may  be  true 
if  neither  you  nor  I  profess  it.  fhe  world  is  wicked 
enough  to  need  a  revelation,  and  ought  to  appreciate 
it  now  that  it  has  been  given." 

At  another  time   his  brother  Daniel,  who  had  pub- 
licly confessed  his  faith,  fell  into  darkness.    One  night 
his  mother  and  his  brother  heard  him  weeping  aloud 
m  his  room.     Upon  questioning  him  he  said  he  had 
been  self  deceived,  and  was  now  sure  there  was  no 
hope  for  him.     His  mother  talked  with  him  but  to  no 
purpose  ;  and  finally  told   Alvah  that  he  had  better  go 
down  to  Elder   Hears,  and  see  what  he  could  do.     So 
they  went  that  night.     Alvah  stated  the  case  of  his 
brother  to  the  pastor.     And  the  good  man  attempted 
to   show  that  the    Spirit    had    not  left    him   or    he 
would  not  be  troubled  at  his  condition.     This  did  not 
help  any,    so  Alvah  was  moved  to  speak.     He  said, 
"Jesus  came  to  save  sinners  and  the  chief  of  sinners'; 
the  difficulty  is  all  on  your  part.     By  your  conduct  in 
not    believing,   you  are  limiting   the    Savior.     Jesus 
said  that  all  who  will  come  to  him  may  have  the  water 
of  life  freely."     His  clear  ideas  about  the  matter  as- 
tonished the  pastor.      "  How  came  you,"  said  he,  "to 
know  these  things  ?  "     "Why,"  said  Alvah,  "common 
sense  would  teach  this  to  any  man." 

He  used  to  delight  in  arguing  questions  of  religion 
with  imaginary  opponents,  and  in  preaching  to  imagin- 
ary congregations. 

These  things  were  treasured  up  by  the  fathers  in 
Israel  as  signs  which  they  understood  better  than  the 
boy  himself.  And  when  at  last  the  grace  of  God  had 
won   the  mastery  over  pride,  and  the  glad  confession 


38 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sahin. 


was  made  in  baptism,  they  began  to  suggest  to  h.m  he 
duty  of  preaching  the  gospel.  He  then  confessed  that 
the  matter  had  been  on  his  mind.  He  sa,d  the  work 
had  always  appeared  to  him  as  a  noble  work,  but  the 
qualifications  were  so  high  that  it  seemed  presumption 
for  him  to  think  of  undertaking  it. 

Some  time  after  this  the  pastor  broached  the  subject 
in  a  more  formal  way.     To  him  he  made  the  ansvver 
that  he  looked  upon   the   work   with  longmg,   but  h.s 
circumstances  were  such  that  it  seemed  to  be  out  ot 
the  question  for  him.     Not  only  did  his  want  of  edu- 
cation stand  in   the  way,  but  he  was  unvoidably  m- 
volved  in  the  care  of  the  family,  his  mother  being  a 
widow,   and  he  being  the  oldest  son.     The  pastor  ad- 
mitted that  these  were  formidable,  but  said  that  there 
were  special  promises  for  special  cases,  and  that  we 
have  a  right  to  hope  for  strength  equal  to  our  day,  and 
urged  him  having  submitted  the  matter  to  the  church, 
to  take  its  decision  as  final.     This  he  consented  to  do. 

The  License. 

It  was  customary  in  that  day  to  hear  a  young  man 
attempt  to  preach  before  licensing  him.     We  remem- 
ber hearing  of  an  instance  which  gives  the  spirit  of  the 
day.     In  the  town  of  Westford  a  man   asked  for  a  li- 
cense.    The  church  heard  his  request,  and  then  the 
pastor  said,  "  Has  any  one  objection  to  our  giving  this 
young   man  hcense  to  preach?"     After  a  pause    an 
old  man  arose  and  leaning  on  his  staff  said,  "I  have 
some  objection.     I   don't  believe  in  sending  out  every 
little,  illiterate,  windy  crittur  into  the  world  to  preach 
the  gospel."     Whether  the  results  were  any  better  in 
those  days  than  they  are  now,  we  will  not  here  dis- 


Entrance  to  the  Ministry. 


39 


Tgest  to  him  the 
1  confessed  that 
c  said  the  work 
J  work,  but  the 
led  presumption 

ched  the  subject 
lade   the  answer 
longing,   but  his 
med  to  be  out  of 
his  want  of  edu- 
5  unvoidably  in- 
}  mother  being  a 
The  pastor  ad- 
it said  that  there 
ses,  and  that  we 
il  to  our  day,  and 
:er  to  the  church, 
consented  to  do. 


liear  a  young  man 
im.     We  remem- 
2S  the  spirit  of  the 
in   asked  for  a  li- 
est,  and  then  the 
to  our  giving  this 
^fter  a  pause    an 
taff  said,  "I  have 
sending  out  every 
le  world  to  preach 
vere  any  better  in 
will  not  here  dis- 


cuss ;  but  they  certainly  went  through  the  forms  of  de- 
liberation. Tlierefore  Brother  Sabin  must  be  heard  be- 
fore it  could  be  said  that  he  was  called  to  preach. 
Though  they  nyiintained  a  strenuous  insistence  on  the 
divine  call,  they  felt  in  duty  bound  to  examine  the 
young  men  to  see  that  God  made  no  mistake.  For 
whatever  might  be  the  impressions  on  the  man  himself, 
they  insisted  that  the  ability  to  preach  to  their  satis- 
faction was  the  final  test  in  the  matter,  and  not  only  in 
the  matter  of  the  call,  but  in  the  matter  of  preparation 
as  well. 

March  17,  18 17,  the  coveted  privilege  of  "improving 
his  gift"  was  granted  and  not  long  after  a  day  was  fixed  for 
the  beginning.     The  notice  was   given  out.  "Brother 
Alvah  Sabin  will  preach  at  the  house  of  Brother  James 
Ballard  on    Wednesday  evening  of  next  week."     We 
give  his  account  of  the  matter.      "My   thought  was 
turned  to  the  text  in    Luke    xxii,  67,    'Art   thou  the 
Christ  ?  Tell  us  !    And  he  said  unto  them,  If  I  tell  vou. 
you  will  not  believe.'     In   my  introduction  I  remarked 
that  we  have  in  the  text  a   fair   specimen  of  the  spirit 
and  manner  in  which  worldly,  and  wicked,  and  hvpo- 
critical  men  investigate   the   subject  of    Christiamty. 
They  prejudge,  and  precondemn.   and   then  use  all  of 
their  influence  to  have  their  decisions  sustained. 

"Second,  I  remarked  that  it  is  not  for  want  of 
evidence  that  sinners  fail  to  believe  the  gospel.  '  If  I 
tell  you,  you  will  not  believe.'  The  disposition 
of  the  heart  has  much  to  do  with  the  belief  of  the 
mind. 

"Third,  repentance  is  succeeded  by  faith.  When  the 
heart  is  changed  it  has  a  faith  that  purifies  it  and  over- 
comes the  world. 


40  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

"I  closed  with  an  exhortation  to  examine  their  hearts 
by  the  Hght  of  the  divine  truth  and  in  view  of  the  final 
day  of  retribution. 

'  Such  was  the  Hne  of  my  thoughts  as  I  intended  to 
present  them  ;  but  before  the  day  arrived,  I  cut  my  foot 
with  an  ax,  and  this,  aggravated  by  my  nervousness  over 
the  coming  event,  was  so  painful  that  I  was  unable  to  go 
at  the  time  appointed.  A  fortnight  after  I  did  go  how- 
cM'er.  It  was  a  dark  stormy  night ;  but  few  came.  For 
the  first  time  I  attempted  anything  in  the  form  of  a 
sermon  from  a  text.  In  later  years  I  preached  from 
the  same  text,  but  not  with  a  tithe  of  the  excitement  I 
felt  at  that  time. 

"But  few  remarks  were  made  on  the  sermon  in  my 
hearing.  Deacon  Egghiston  remarked  that  he  never 
heard  the  text  preached  from  before;  he  thought  the 
discourse  grew  out  of  the  text ;  and  was  all  true.  I 
had  previously  read  the  sermon  to  Elder  Mears,  and  he 
had  encouraged  me  to  hope  that  it  would  be  acceptable 
for  a  first  effort.  I  did  not  read  it  to  the  people;  but 
then,  as  for  many  years  afterwards,  I  committed  the 
leading  arguments  to  memory  and  spoke  freely. 

"About  a  month  after  this,  Elder  Mears  proposed 
that  I  should  preach  the  morning  discourse  on  the 
Sabbath.  It  was  a  pleasant  day  in  April,  and  the 
house  was  more  than  full.  I  took  for  my  text  Psalm 
cxvi,  12.  'What  shall  I  icnder  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his 
benefits  towards  me?'  In  this  sermon  I  used  the  word 
benefit  in  its  most  enlarged  sense,  including  our  cre- 
ation and  endowment  with  faculties  of  body  and  mind  ; 
the  beauties  of  creation,  and  their  adaptation  to  our 
wants  and  pleasures ;  the  exalted  position  we  occupy 
over  the  animal  creation  ;  the  advantages  of  a  civilized 


nine  their  hearts 
view  of  the  final 

as  I  intended  to 
cd,  I  cut  n^y  foot 
lervousness  over 
^vas  unable  to  go 
er  I  did  go  how- 
jt  few  came.  For 
in  the  form  of  a 
I  preached  from 
:he  excitement  I 

he  sermon  in  my 
d  that  he   never 
;  he  thought  the 
I  was  all  true.     I 
ler  Mears,  and  he 
uld  be  acceptable 
)  the  people;  but 
I  committed  the 
oke  freely, 
r  Mears  proposed 
discourse   on  the 
I    April,    and   the 
r  my  text  Psalm 
lie  Lord  for  all  his 
n  I  used  the  word 
including  our  cre- 
»f  body  and  mind  ; 
adaptation  to  our 
osition  we  occupy 
iges  of  a  civilized 


Entrance  to  the  Ministry.  ^i 

land;  the  divine  revelation  that  shows  the  mora!  law  of 
God,    and  the  mode  in  which   he  may  be  acceptably 
vyorsh.pcd.     Then    I   traced  the  growing  clearness  of 
the  revelation  after  the  fall  of  man,   from  the  covenant 
with  Abraliam,  through  the  Prophets  on  to  the  Messiah. 
iMnally  Jesus  is  the  greatest  benefit  God  had  bestowed 
on  the  world,  and  that  benefit  is  essential  to  the  per- 
fection of  all  the  others.     It  is  now  offered  to  all  who 
will  accept  it.     Through  the  sacrifice  of  himself  he  has 
made  it  practical  to  pardon  repentant  sinners  and  still 
leave  the  law  of  God  in  as  full  force  to  restrain  the 
willful  sinners  as  if  no  pardon   had  been  granted,   and 
the  pardoned  sinner  has  no  temptation  to  laxncss  be- 
cause he  can  be  pdrdoned. 

"Many  of  the  recently  converted  were  there,  and  also 
of  those   who  did  not  usually  go  to  church.     They 
were    much    pleased     with     the     discourse,   and     all 
seemed  to  be  edified.     During  the  summer  and  winter 
following,  !  was  asked  to  preach  at  Swanton,  East  Fair- 
held,  Westford,  Fletcher,  and  Milton." 
Thus  the  principle  which  he  used  to  believe  in,  viz: 
The  best  evidence  of  a  man's  call  to  preach  is  that 
he  can  preach,"  or,  to  put  the  same  idea  in  another's 
words,  "If  God  calls  a  man  to  preach  he  calls  somebody 
to  hear  him.  "did  in  his  case  con  firm  the  decision  of  the 
church  in  granting  him  liberty   to   exercise  his  gift 
From  that  time  he  never  lacked  a  congregation.  If  men 
heard  him  once  they  went  again  to  hear,  and  took  oth- 
ers with  them.     The  outline  of  his  first  sermons  here 
given  show  that  his  mind  while  it  was  not  disciplined 
to  cmg  closely  to  one  theme,    but  like  all  beginners 
gleaned  from  the  whole  field  of  doctrine,  was  neverthe- 
less a  reasoning  one.  There  was  more  than  an  earnest. 


42  Life  of  Rei:  Alvah  Sabin. 

warmhearted  exhortation.  There  was  an  effort  to  instruct 
as  well ;  to  move  the  will  through  the  sense  of  obli- 
gation. One  can  see  here  the  reflection  of  his  own 
thoughtful  experience. 

This  was  in  the  spring  of  1817.     It  was  his  inten- 
tion at  that  time  to  preach  the  gospel.    To  get  as  good 
an   education   as  he  could,  but  to  preach.     This  was 
the  cross  upon  which  he  needed  to  be  crucified.    Elder 
Hears  told  him  that  the  church  was  a  school,  and  that 
by  close  application  he  could  approach  to  the  edu- 
cation of  others.     This   carried   the  cross  for  him   a 
little  ways,  but  he  was  obliged  to  be  nailed  to  it  at  the 
last.     He  came  where  he  said,  "I  will  preach,   edu- 
cated if  I  can  be  ;  but  uneducated  if  I  find  it  to  be  the 
will  of  the  master.     He  calls  me,   and  he  knows  my 
talent  better  than  I  do,  and  I  will  go   into  the  work, 
and  crucify  my  pride  and  submit  my  judgment  to  his 
wish."     Yet  while  he  thus  went  to  the  cross,  we  think 
that  he  went  as  the  Savior  did,  in  a  strong  faith  that 
there  was  to  be  in  some  way  a  deliverance  from  it.     A 
death  it  may  be,  but  a  resurrection  also. 

And  the  resurrection  came.     In  the  chapter  on  his 
education  we  have  mentioned  the  fact  that  he  met,  at 
Fairfield  Association,   Ira  Chase,  who  showed  him  the 
way  to  get  his  education.     And  that  very  year  the 
school  was  begun  from  which  he  graduated.     The  two 
years  intervening  between  this  time  and  his  going  to 
Philadelphia,  were  spent  between   preparatory   study 
and  work  on  the  farm.    It  was  five  years  from  the  time 
that  he  became  a  member  of  the  church  until  he  gradu- 
ated from  the  seminary,  and  was  ordained.     And  four 
of  these  years  were  filled  with   study  and  preaching. 
He  was  not  therefore  destitute  of   preparation.     It  is 


effort  to  iiistruct 
ic  sense  of  obli- 
tion   of  his  own 

It  was  his  inten- 

To  get  as  good 
;ach.  This  was 
crucified.    Elder 

school,  and  that 
ach  to  the  edu- 
cross  for  him  a 
tailed  to  it  at  the 
/ill  preach,   edu- 

find  it  to  be  the 
,d  he  knows  my 
o   into  the  work, 

judgment  to  his 
e  cross,  we  think 
strong  faith  that 
ance  from  it.  A 
Iso. 

e  chapter  on  his 
:t  that  he  met,  at 
3  showed  him  the 
lat  very  year  the 
duated.  The  two 
and  his  going  to 
treparatory  study 
;ars  from  the  time 
ch  until  he  gradu- 
ained.  And  four 
dy  and  preaching, 
preparation.     It  is 


Entrance  to  the  Ministry.  4, 

very  doubtful-indeed,  it  is  quite  improbable-that  the 
average  young  man  now  goes  from  the  seminary 
with  as  good  preparation  for  his  work-that  prep- 
aration  in  the  knowledge  of  the  word  he  is  to'teach 
and  the  knowledge  of  men  to  whom  he  is  to  speak-as 
he  had.  His  is  in  no  sense  a  case  of  usefulness  witho  .t 
education  which  should  encourage  any  young  man 
who  may  chance  to  read  this  volume  to  be  satisfied  with 
any  but  the  rest  of  preparation  for  this  highest  of 
all  calhngs,  the  ministry  of  the  gospel. 

Ordination. 

We  have  stated  in  the  chapter  on  education  that  he 
received,  upon  leaving  school,  a  commission  from   the 
Philadelphia  Association  to  preach  as  a  missionary  in 
Northern   Vermont  and  Lower   Canada.     He  entered 
upon  this  at  once  and  spent  three  months  in  it.  Durinir 
this  period  the  church  at  Georgia  was  considering  the 
propriety  of  ordaining  him.    But  this  was  not  a  wholly 
one-s.ded  question.     When  he  went  away  there  were 
some  who  opposed  his  going,  and  in  the  two  years  that 
had  elapsed  the  question   of  theological  schools  had 
been  under  constant  discussion  throughout  the  State. 
The  lines  were  drawn  sharper  than  before.  Although  he 
was  not  ordained  he  was  recognized  as  so  near  to  it 
that  he  was  treated  as  a  minister  by  many.     Some  of 
the  brethren  in  the  church  thought  that  he  ought  to  be 
disciplined.     Even  before  he  returned  from  Philadel- 
phia the  Wiley  opponents  of  the  "preacher  mills"  began 
to  prepare  his  reception.     The  records  of  the  church 
contain  the  following  item : 

December  ;    1820. -After  considerable  conversation 
on   the  propriety  of  the  institutions  of  the  Education 


44  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

Society  established  by  the  Baptists,  voted  that  we  do 
not  consider  it  agreeable  to  scripture. 

We  do  not  repeat  this  record  as  a  censure  of  their 
intentions.     They  were  men  of  independent  thought, 
and  outspoken  loyalty  to  the  scripture.     At  that  time 
it  was  not  a  popular  thing  to  be  a   Baptist.     Many  of 
those  who  were  had  come  through  great  tribulation. 

They  had  blazed  their  own  way  through  the  Bible 
and  found  great  satisfaction  to  their  souls  in  its  rugged 
doctrines  of  grace  and  sovereignty.  The  party  of  op- 
pression, the  ruling  order  of  the  more  Eastern  States, 
from  which  many  of  them  came,  the  defenders  of  infant 
baptism,  the  mutilators  of  the  ordinance  itself,  were  all 
associated  in  their  minds  with  an  educated  ministry. 

In  a  later  day  a  gre'at  man  whose  noble  soul  was  as 
well  filled  with  the  Spirit  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven 
as  any  of  whom  we  know,  made  the  same  mistake  on 
another  subject.     The  Hon.  Gerrit  Smith,  noble  advo- 
cate and  defender  of  freedom,  for  a  long  time  discarded 
the  scriptures  because  he  thought  they  were  the  bul- 
wark of  slavery.     Most   of  the    ministers  whom    he 
knew  said  that  slavery  was  taught  in  the  Bible.     He 
mistook  the  opinion  of  the  ministers  for  the  true  one, 
and  therefore  he  said,  "Then  the  Bible  is  of  the  devil." 
But  in  later  years  he  was  an  earnest  lover  and  teacher 
of  it.  He  came  to  a  study  of  the  book  for  himself,  and 
was  convinced  that  it  was  not  of  the  devil,  but  of  the 
God   and    Savior   of  slaves.     When   he   was   able  to 
separate   the   thing   from    its    associations    his    mind 

cleared. 

So  these  men  associated  the  errors  from  which  they 
had  turned,  and  against  which  they  felt  bound  to  pro- 
test, with  an  educated  ministry.     It  took  years  for  them 


i.. 


n, 

oted  thai  \vc  do 

censure  of  their 
)endcnt  thought, 
.     At  that  time 
iptist.     Many  of 
at  tribulation, 
rough   the   Bible 
Duls  in  its  rugged 
The  party  of  op- 
;  Eastern  States, 
efenders  of  infant 
ce  itself,  were  all 
cated  ministry, 
noble  soul  was  as 
jdom  of  Heaven 

same  mistake  on 
mith,  noble  advo- 
ng  time  discarded 
liey  were  the  bul- 
listers  whom  he 
1  the  Bible.     He 

for  the  true  one, 
le  is  of  the  devil." 
lover  and  teacher 
>k  for  himself,  and 
;  devil,  but  of  the 
he  was  able  to 
iations    his    mind 

i  from  which  they 
felt  bound  to  pro- 
ook  years  for  them 


Entrance  to  the  Ministry. 


45 

to  separate  the  one  from  the  other.  In  an  estimate  of  the 
men  tins  must  be  remembered.  But  the  view  they 
held  .s  an  Ishmaelite  against  whom  every  man  may  raise 
his  voice,  and  turn  his  ridicule. 

In  July.  I82I,  aBrother  A-~  brought  the  subject  to 
he  attention  of  the  church  in  the  follotving  manner   Is 
the  record  reads : 

rIp!?I';^''*'-M^ ^,"i''i"'"f^'stcd  that  his  mind   was  bur- 

which  they  now  hold  fellowship.  P""<^'P'e^     ^^ith 

„,  ':^T:~  ''P'"^  <^''»"ed  upon  to  substantiate  the  com 
plaint  exhibited,  then  stated  that  the  conduct  of  X 
church  relative  to  Brethren  Joseph  BallTrd  and  Ilv.h 
Sabin,  ,n  his  view  of  the  subject,  was  indirect^v  nr  i m 

t^\  ^Jr^  f^'^r^'^'P  ^°  ^'^  theofogic    's"  ^iJties  es" 
ta^hshed  by  the  Baptist  denomination,   and    he  PrS 

ine  judgment  of  the  churches  to  wh  ch  they  belonrr  nnH 
m  their  own  judgment,  are   called   to  preach  thf'.os 
pel.  to  give  them  other  qualifications  o?  further  preDa 
ra  .on    which  principle  and  method  the  church  3 
sidered  contrary  to  scripture. 

iHee  records  of  church  meeting,,  December  7,  1 820  1 
The  Church  took  under  consideration  its  dol'n(?s  as   ft 

?h?n   tol?'°-  y''''^'  ^."^  decided  agalns   Br"5?IL'' 
Then   took   under  consideration   the  doings    of     the 

tfni''S.'V/''P"'*'^'^  ^'■^-  S''^'^'"'  and  solved  It  by  put 

mac  seminary?    The  church  answered,  "Yes  " 

This  seems,  at  the  first  glance,  to  be'  quite  decisive  ; 
but  there  ,s  on  a  second   look  another  view  to   It 
There  were  brethren  willing  to  admit  that  such  fellow- 


46 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


ship  of  the  men  was  also  a  fellowship  of  the  schools  as 
well,  and  who  were  willing  to  have  that  fellowship. 

The  next  item  of  record  shows  that  the  flaw  was  dis- 
covered. 

The  question  was  put  in  the  following  form  at  the 
meeting  of  December  7,  1821  : 

Is  receiving  one  as  a  gospel  minister  who  has  been 
through  a  course  of  study  after  being  called  to  preach, 
and  still  approving  of  the  same,  a  breach  of  the  divine 
rule?    The  church  answered,  "Yes." 

But  with  all  this  opposition  there  was  no  withdrawal 
of  fellowship.     He  had  discharged  his  mission    for  the 
Philadelphia  Association  with  credit.     He  was  preach- 
ing to  the  churches  of  the  country  with  satisfaction. 
The   people   of  his    own  church  were  not  displcasei. 
with  him  in  anything  but  this,  as  it  seemed  to  them, 
dangerous  heresy.     The  question  was  not  a   personal 
one,  but  a  matter  of  doctrine.     While  the  church  was 
not  willing  to  admit  the  principle,  it  did  vote  to  ordain 
the  man,  and  the  council  was  called  for  the    second 
Wednesday   in    September,    182 1.     The   churches    of 
Colchester,    Swanton,    Hinesburgh,     Johnson,    Cam- 
bridge, Milton  and  Westford  were  invited  to  send  dele- 
gates. 

This  was  a  bitter  pill  for  the  opponents  to  swallow, 
and  they  complained  so  loudly  that  when  the  next 
covenant  meeting  came  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, it  was  a  question  whether  they  were  in  the  proper 
frame  of  mind  to  go  to  the  table  of  brotherly  love  and 
fellowship.  The  pastor  asked  them  if  they  thought 
the  "difference  of  opinion  was  such  that  they  ought 
to  break  fellowship."  The  question  was  put  to  each 
one  individually,  and  the  majority  said,    "No." 


tn. 

)f  the  schools  as 
It  fellowship, 
the  flaw  was  dis- 

Mng  form  at  the 

tcr  who  has  been 
called  to  preach, 
ach  of  the  divine 

as  no  withdrawal 
5  mission    for  the 

He  was  preach- 
with  satisfaction. 
re  not  displeased 
seemed  to  them, 
,s  not  a  personal 
2  the  church  was 
iid  vote  to  ordain 
d  for  the  second 
The   churches   of 

Johnson,    Cam- 
/ited  to  send  dele- 

nents  to  swallow, 
t  when  the  next 
to  the  Lord's  Sup- 
vere  in  the  proper 
irotheiiy  love  and 

if   they   thought 
1  that  they  ought 

was  put  to  each 
aid,    "No." 


Entrance  to  the  Ministry, 


A7 

"Hro   Joseph  Hailard  then  moved  that  we  i:o  forwird 
to  communion,  and  this  was  carried."  ^    '^rvvard 

Wc  arc  passing  by  some  items  and  gcttin-  al.c.d 
our  story,  but  we  can  not  better  relate  th'  outcome  *::'f 
of    th.s   struggle   than  to  do    it   in    this    connection. 

fr^Z  "?''?•'  '''■•  ^^^''"  '''"^^  '^  '^'■»-'-'  taken 
entry         '''   '  "   '"'"    '"''"'^   ''^"^'   ''''    ^^^'    this 

January  4.  i822._On  motion    read   the    records  of 

some  time  past  been  a  subject  of  alterca  io  in  thl 
church,  v.z:  whether  it  may  be  proper  or  Zoner  to 
continue  church  fellowship  with  those  mnisersvlo 
have  availed  themselves  of  the  advantages  of  a  tfieolo 
g.cal  institution  after  being  called  to  pread^we  are  of 
I  e   opm.on  that  the   vote  passed    December  7     8^o 

and  tend  to  strife^STr'jh/^  god  /Tdif^i  /'''^Ti:= 

f^'::i:^^si:!z.  ^'-  ^°^^"  be^^g-ec^^s; 

Afterwards  five  brethren  were  excluded  from  the 
church  for  stirring  up  strife  about  the  matter,  and  again 
m  the  course  of  years  received  to  fellowship. 

We  return  now  to  the  ordination.     It  was  sixty-four 
years  ago.     There  were  infrequent  mails   and   no   rail- 
roads.     The  delegation  came  on  horseback,  or  on  foot 
They  stopped  at  the  homes  of  brethren  on  the  way 
They  came  not  as  a  form,  nor  as  a  kind  of  holiday  task 
but  to  seriously  consider  the  propriety  of  ordaining  a 
man  to  the  ministry  from  which  it  would  be  considered  a 
disgrace  and  an  act  of  bad  faith  with  his  God   ever  to 


I 


48 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


I 


withdraw  while  health  and  opportunity  were  his  to  con- 
tinue in  it. 

They  were  not  in  possession  of  such  prophetic  sight 
that  they  could  foresee  the  result  of  a  council  and  have 
the  programmes   of  ordination   printed  before   hand. 
They  were  compelled  to  wait  the   slow  process   of  an 
examination,  and  the  decision  of  the  brethren  before 
the  appointments  could  be  made  for  the  ordination  ser- 
vices.    The  delegates  met  at  the  house  of  the  pastor. 
A  day  was  spent  in  personal  conversation  with  the  can- 
didate.    We  have  not  been  able  to  find  any  account  of 
the    examination.      But  we  may  be  sure  that  it  was 
thorough.     Those  who  thought   that   a  man  ought  not 
to  try  to  learn  anything  after  he  was  called  to  preach, 
but  should  "plunge  into  the  midst  of  things"  at  once; 
and  were  so  severely  conscientious  about  it  that  they 
were  disposed  to  suspend  him  from  church  fellowship 
until  he  ceased  to  try,  were  not  the  men  to  let  him   off 
easily  when  they  had  a  chance  to  question  him.     We 
may  be  morally  certain  that  some  of  them  asked  him 
to  explain  that  waste  of  two  years  of  the  Lord's  time 
in  the  schools  of  men.     Others  would  test  the  young 
man,  "who  had   been   to   the  preacher    mill."    upon 
the  question  of  "limited  atonement"  or   "man's  free- 
dom."    The  man  who  had  just  learned  something  and 
wanted  to  show  it  was  there.  Equally  sure  are  we  that 
Alvah  Sabin  was  respectful  to  all,  and  that  the  bulk  of 
the  council  were  men  of  warm  hearts  and  clear  heads, 
in  sympathy  with  the  great  purposes  of  the  gospel  min- 
istry, rather  than  occupied  with  the  defense  of  some  cross- 
eyed or  near-sighted  view  of  scripture  doctrine.     They 
were  satisfied  with  his  experienceof  grace.and  explana- 
tion of  doctrine.    The  next  day,  word  having  been  sent 


ibin. 

ity  were  his  to  con- 
ch prophetic  sight 
a  council  and  have 
nted  before   hand, 
low  process   of  an 
le  brethren  before 
the  ordination  ser- 
•  use  of  the  pastor, 
sation  with  the  can- 
find  any  account  of 
)e  sure  that  it  was 
it   a  man  ought  not 
IS  called  to  preach, 
of  things"  at  once; 
about  it  that  they 
I  church  fellowship 
men  to  let  him   off 
question  him.     We 
of  them  asked  him 
of  the  Lord's  time 
luld  test  the  young 
icher    mill."    upon 
nt"  or  "man's  free- 
irned  something  and 
illy  sure  are  we  that 
and  that  the  bulk  of 
rts  and  clear  heads, 
es  of  the  gospel  min- 
iefense  of  some  cross- 
;ure  doctrine.     They 
if  grace,  and  explana- 
ard  having  been  sent 


Entrance  to  the  Ministry. 


49 

around  to  the  church  ..c.nbers  and  community,  he  was 
ordamed.  The  servic  .  .re  in  the  old  white  meeting 
house  at  the.'Center. "  Lider  Phineas  Culver  preachel 
the  sermon  ;  Roswell  Mears  offered  the  ordaining  prayer- 

17  ^;".''''  ^^r  '"T  '''"'■^'  ""^  P"*^*-  Chase  the  hand  of 
fellowship.   Thus  h.s  official  life  was  begun.    There  was 

S.VH  r''°".'°u"'P''' "'"'^^-  "^"^^^'  "°t  him  that 
g.rd^th  on  h.s  harness  boast  himself  as  he  that  putteth 


50 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PASTORAL   RECORD. 

Fo,,  convenience  of  reference  this  rf>»P.«;,."f .''"  " 
short  review  of  the  previous  record,  and  .s  d,v,dcd  mto 

decades. 

X793-I799- 

Unwritten  history  of  boyhood. 

1800-1809. 

At  the  opening  of  this  decade  he  was  a  lad  of  seven^ 
In  this  he  always  claimed  that  he  was  converted ;  and 
his  common  school  life  was  mostly  contained. 

18x0-1819. 

This  period  was  occupied  with   teaching  school,  and 
1  ms  penou  «  r  relieious  experience, 

rdTe'X  oT'tLtectde^ound  hin.  at  Phiiadeiphia 
in  the  theological  seminary. 

1820-1829. 


kj^} 


'1 


Pastoral  Record. 


51 


lapter  includes  a 
id  is  divided  into 


?as  a  lad  of  seven, 
as  converted ;  and 
ontained. 


aching  school,  and 
ligious  experience, 
I  rest  of  conscience 
evailed  ;  but  in  the 
ifession  of  his  faith, 
id  work  for  him  in 
n  license  to  preach, 
him  at  Philadelphia 


and    completing    his 
For  a  few  months  he 


then  preached  as  he  was  wanted,  in  Cambridge,  Under- 
bill, VVaterville,  Craftsbury,  North  Troy,  Richford, 
Sheldon,  Fairfield,  and  several  towns  in  Canada.  Out 
of  this  acquaintance  came  an  engagement  to  supply  at 
Cambridge  one-half  the  time,  and  at  Underbill  the 
other  half.     This  continued  for  a  year. 

"At  Cambridge  there  was  a  church,  but  it  had 
been  at  a  standstill  for  several  years.  Good  brethren 
were  there,  but  a  difference  of  opinion  on  some  doc- 
trinal point  marred  their  union. 

"They  gave  me  a  formal  request  to  preach  one-half 
the  time  for  one  year.  This  I  accepted.  Major  Par- 
ker had  a  newly  built  tavern  containing  a  large  dancing 
hall  which  he  proffered  to  the  church  on  condition  that 
I  should  preach  there  every  other  Sabbath.  The  offer 
was  accepted,  and  we  used  it  during  the  four  years  I 
was  there,  I  do  not  know  that  he  ever  received  a  cent 
for  it.  In  addition  his  family  always  gave  me  a  dinner 
on  Sunday  and  treated  me  very  kindly.  This  was  my 
first  experience  in  preaching  to  a  church  statedly. 

"The  congregation  filled  the  hall  on  the  first  Sunday. 
They  came  from  all  parts  of  the  town,  and  some  from 
Underbill,  and  Waterville.  This  continued  all  the 
time  I  was  there.  Several  were  added  by  letter  and  by 
baptism.  The  last  year  of  my  stay  they  began  to  build 
a  new  house  of  worship,  and  it  was  a  beautiful  one  for 
the  time.  I  afterward  preached  at  its  dedication.  The 
President  of  Burlington  College  was  there  and  I  found 
that  I  was  not  altogether  above  the  fear  of  man. 
This  period  of  my  preaching  life  was  among  the  hap- 
piest. 

"In  the  town   of  Underbill  they  had  no  preaching. 
There  were  a  few  Baptists,  who  had  no  house  of  wor- 


5  2  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

ship  The  Congregationalists  had  an  old  shell  of  a 
house,  but  no  preacher.  Bro.  Ward,  the  "no-legged 
man,"  circulated  a  subscription  to  raise  money  to  pay 
me  for  preaching  in  the  old  house.  The  people,  with- 
out distinction  of  sect,  subscribed,  and  all  attended. 
This  was  continued  for  one  year  only. 

"The  second  year  I  was  at  Cambridge,  the  church  at 
Westford  asked  me  to  preach  for   them  on<:-half   the 
time.     This  I  consented  to  do;  and  continued  there  for 
seven  years— four  in  connection  with    Cambridge,   and 
three  in  connection  with  Georgia.     There  were  several 
influential   brethren   in   this  church,    but  it  had  been 
without  a  minister   for  some   time,  and  was   in  a  low 
state.     They   promised  me  $50  for   half  the  time  one 
year  ;    but  as  the  congregation  increased  they  doubled, 
and    tripled,    and    quadrupled   it  of  their   own    will. 
When  I  first  went  there  the  meetings  were  held  in  a  lit- 
tle old   school-house,  southeast  of  the  present  meeting 
house.     They  made  slab  seats  and  set  them  around  the 
house  outside  for  the   people  who  could   not    get  in. 
These  were  covered  over  with  a  roof  of  boards.     Then 
I  stood  at  a   window  to  preach,  so  that  they  could   all 
hear.     In  winter  the  meetings  were  held  in  the   south 
part  of  the  town  in   the  'Stewart  school-house  ;'  and  at 
the  'Chase  school-house'  in  the  north  part  of  town. 

«'In  the  spring  of  the  second  year  (1823)  the  question 
of  building  a  meeting-house  was  agitated.  It  was  pro- 
posed to  unite  with  the  Methodists  and  each  occupy  it 
half  the  time.  All  subscribed  ;  a  commendable  zeal  was 
manifested,  and  it  was  pushed  to  completion.  It  was 
so  far  advanced  in  the  fall  that  on  Sundays  we  swept 
back  the  shavings,  and  made  rude  seats,  and  held  our 
meetings  there.     I  would  stand  on  a  workman's  bench, 


»  old  shell  of  a 
the  "no-leggcd 
2  money  to  pay 
le  people,  with- 
id   all   attended. 

Ige.thc  church  at 
:in  one-half  the 
ntinued  there  for 

Cambridge,   and 
lere  were  several 

but  it  had  been 
nd  was   in  a  low 
lalf  the  time  one 
3ed  they  doubled, 
■  their   own    will, 
were  held  in  a  lit- 
;  present  meeting 
t  them  around  the 
ould   not    get  in. 
of  boards.     Then 
lat  they  could   all 
held  in  the   south 
ool-house ;'  and  at 
.  part  of  town. 
(1823)  the  question 
ated.     It  was  pro- 
and  each  occupy  it 
nmendable  zeal  was 
impletion.     It  was 
Sundays  we    swept 
Beats,  and  held  our 
I  workman's  bench, 


Pastoral  Record.  5, 

and  all  the  people  could  see  and  hear.  VVc  had  many 
yood  meetings  in  this  uay.  Not  long  after  the  house 
was  done  I  proposed  to  the  congregation  one  Sunday 
morning  that  we  have  a  conference  meeting.  The  re- 
sult was  that  great  freedom  was  taken,  and  before  I  was 
sensible  of  ,t  the  intermission  was  gone,  and  the  time 
tor  the  afternoon  service  was  expired.  So  I  dismissed 
the  congregation  and  did  not  preach  myself. 

'  'From  this  time  a  revival  commenced,  lasting  throucrh 
the  winter  and  spring  (1824  and  '25).   I  baptized  between 
fifty  and  sixty.     The  Methodists  as  many  more  ;    and 
the  Congregationalists  many  ;  but  how   many  I   do  not 
know.     The  church  became  strong  and  a  good  society 
assisted   in  the   support  of  worship.     In  this  place  I 
preached  for  seven  years.      My  family  lived  in  Georgia 
excepting  a  year  at  Cambridge  and  I  rode  to  Westford 
every  two  weeks  to  my   duty.     I  made  it  a  point   to 
stay  at  different  places  at   different  times,  so  I  slept  in 
almost  every  house  occupied  by  members  of  the  church 
or  the   society.     The   church  had  a   commendable  de- 
gree of  Christian  fellowship.  The  congregation  was  uni- 
lorml)'  good. 

"One  instance  showing  how  anxious  the  people  were 
to  be  at  the  church  is  worth  mention.  Deacon  Jonas 
Hobart  lived  about  four  miles  from  the  place  of  ^.or- 
ship,  and  the  road  lay  over  a  small  mountain.  His  fa- 
ther and  mother  lived  in  a  house  near  him  They 
were  both  over  seventy  years  old,  but  were  uniformly 
at  meeting.  They  made  the  journey  in  this  way  :  One 
of  them  would  take  the  horse  and  ride  to  the  top  of  the 
hill,  while  the  other  walked.  Then  the  one  who 
had  ridden  would  hitch  the  horse  and  go  down  the  hill 
on  foot.     The  one  who  had   walked  up  the'  hill  would 


5 .  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

ride  down.     After  church  they  reversed  the  order,  and 

so  went  home. 

"During  the  last  two  years  I  was  there  the  Baptists 
bought  four  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  meeting-house, 
and  built  a  good  two-story  brick  house  on  it  for  a  par- 
sonage. It  was  done  a^  1  suppose  with  the  hope  that  1 
would  move  my  family  into  it,  and  thus  become  the  per- 
manent pastor.  But  circumstances  arose  which  made  it 
inexpedient  for  me  to  do  so.  In  1825  Elder  Mears,  of 
Georgia,  was  in  so  poor  health  that  he  could  not  preach 
all  the  time,  and  it  was  proposed  that  I  should  leave 
Cambridge  and  preach  at  Georgia  one-half  the  time. 

There   are  some  intimations  scattered   through  his 
writings  that  he  had  from  his  first  thought  of  the  min- 
istry, a  dim  yet  constant  idea   of  being  pastor  there. 
It  was  never  an  ambition  ;  but  one  of  those   ever  pre- 
sent tendencies  which  do  not  disturb  any  relations,  but 
whenever  there  is  a   decision  to  make,  enter  into  the 
scales  to  decide  it.     In  the  chapter  on  the  ^' Gates  Af- 
fair'' will   be  found   the   strongest  expression    of    it. 
He  said  that  the  events  of  that  time  had  been  a  sort  of 
inducement  to  remain  in  that   town  and  form  whatever 
character  he  did  form,  in  the  face  of  those  events.    How 
well  this  was  defined  in  his  purposes  we  can  not  tell  at 
this  day;  but  it  had  its  influence  in  leading  him  to  leave 
Cambridge,  where  he  was  doing  so   well,   and  go   to 
Georgia.  From  that  time,  therefore,  he  was  at  Georgia 
and  VVestford.     In  1828  the  Georgia  church  gave  him 
a  call  to  become  the  pastor,  in  place  of  Elder  Mears, 
who  had  been  there  since  1807.     This  was  gladly  ac- 
cepted, and    henceforth  his   home,  work,   and  heart 
were   with  that   church.      Tl  e   close   of  this   decade 
found  him  there,  as  did  that  of  four  others. 


ijU»! 


d  the  order,  and 

ere  the  Baptists 
2  meeting-house, 
se  on  it  for  a  par- 
1  the  hope  that  I 
5  become  the  per- 
)se  which  made  it 
5  Elder  Mears,  of 
;  could  not  preach 
t  "l  should  leave 
le-half  the  time." 
:red   through  his 
Dught  of  the  min- 
ng  pastor  there. 
■  those   ever  pre- 
any  relations,  but 
:e,  enter  into  the 
.n  the  "Gates  Af- 
ixpression    of    it. 
Iiad  been  a  sort  of 
,nd  form  whatever 
lose  events.    How 
we  can  not  tell  at 
lading  him  to  leave 

well,  and  go  to 
he  was  at  Georgia 
I  church  gave  him 
;  of  Elder  Mears, 
lis  was  gladly  ac- 

work,  and  heart 
5e  of  this  decade 
•  others. 


Pastoral  Recotd. 


55 


This  brief  narrative,  like  scripture  records,  only  in- 
dicates with  dotted  lines  the  course  of  the  history. 
There  is  much  to  be  read  between  the  lines.  And  to 
do  this  one  must  be  more  familiar  with  the  surround- 
ings, than  many  of  the  present  generation  may  hope 
to  be.  Yet  some  things  can  be  seen.  The  church  at 
Cambridge  was  in  a  weak  condition  when  he  went  there. 
He  gathered  a  large  congregation,  gained  the  ears  of 
the  unconverted,  and  the  new  hope  kindled  secured 
the  building  of  the  meeting-house. 

At  Underbill  the  whole  community  was  moved,  and 
for  the  year  were  united  in  him. 

At  Westford  there  were  things  which  do  not  appear 
in  his  letters,  which  made  his  work  difficult,  and  at  the 
same  time  gave  him  opportunity  to  show  his  wisdom 
and  prudence.     There  was,  as  in  many  towns  of  Ver- 
mont, a  meeting-house  built  by  the  town,  to  be  used  by 
the  denomination  which  was  in  the  majority.     This  was 
the  Congregationalist.     The  Baptists,  if  they  used  the 
house,  must  use  it  when  they  were  permitted  by  the 
society.     They  asked  permission  to  use  it  every  other 
Sunday,  when  it  was  unoccupied.     But  just  at  that  time 
there  was  some  one  among  the  Congregationalists  who 
had  not  only  a  dislike  to  Baptists,    but  also  the  influ- 
ence to  make  his  dislike  felt.     And  it  was  voted  through 
his  manipulation  of  the  meeting  that  the  Baptists  could 
have  the  house   whenever  it   was   not   in  use,    except 
Sundays.     This  was  the  opportunity  to  make  a  bitter- 
ness not  easily  removed,  but  he  simply  said,  "Let  us 
go  into  the  school-houses."     Then  he  preached  in  all 
parts   of  the  town  week  nights  and   Sundays.      He 
made  no  allusion  to  the   matter,   but  attended   to   his 
Master's  work.     The  result  was,  he  made  the  acquaint- 


56 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


ance  of  the  whole  community,  and  by  his  wise  and 
kindly  spirit  showed  them  that  the  Baptists  were  to  be 
neither  feared  as  heretics,  nor  despised  as  fools.     This 
unkind  act  was  the  means,   indirectly,  of  gaining  for 
him  a  hearty  support  in  building  the  meeting-house. 
When  he  left,  instead  of  a  church   without  a  house  of 
worship,  and  the  town  church  closed   against  them  ; 
there  was  a  strong  church,  a  large  and  appreciative  so- 
ciety, a  good  house,  a  parsonage,  and  four  acres  of  land. 
There  are  other  evidences  of  the  esteem  in  which  he 
was  held.     In   1824,  a  senator  was  to  be  elected  from 
Vermont,  and  the  party  lines  were  closely  drawn.     It 
was  thought  that  Mr.  Sabin,  who,  though  he  was  of  an- 
other party,  would  for   friendship's  sake  vote  for  Mr. 
Van  Ness  ;  and  at  the  town  meeting,  without  any  consul- 
tation with  him,  and  without  even  his  knowledge    and 
in  his  absence,  he  was  elected  to  the  assembly.     But 
they  were  disappointed  in  his  vote  and  he  was  dropped 
the  next  year.     The  year  1826  he  received  the  honor- 
ary degree  of  A.  M.  from  Burlington  College.     After 
1827  the  mysterious  disappearance  of  Wm.    Morgan 
made  the  question  of  Masonry  a  prominent  one.     And 
as  there  seemed  to  be  a  moral  issue  involved  in  the  case 
he  was  at  once  identified  with  the  movement  against 
Masonry.     His  ability  was  such  that  he  was  called  to 
lecture  on  the  subject  in  behalf  of  the  churches.     All 
these  things  were  giving  him  acquaintance  and  prom- 
inence. 

It  would  be  an  interesting  and  very  profitable  study 
to  read,  the  sermons  of  those  days.  But  the  sermons 
which  hold  men  together  in  school-houses  and  in  unfin- 
ished meeting  houses  are  not  written  beforehand,  nor 
likely  to  be  reported  by  stenographers.     They  come 


ki, 


Pastoral  Record. 


n 


>y  his   wise  and 
ptists  were  to  be 
d  as  fools.     This 
of  gaining  for 
meeting-house, 
hout  a  house  of 
1   against  them  ; 
appreciative  so- 
bur  acres  of  land, 
teem  in  which  he 
be  elected  from 
losely  drawn.     It 
ugh  he  was  of  an- 
sake  vote  for  Mr. 
ithout  any  consul- 
knowledge    and 
;  assembly.     But 
\  he  was  dropped 
eived  the  honor- 
1  College.     After 
of  Wm.    Morgan 
ninent  one.     And 
ivolved  in  the  case 
novement  against 
he  was  called  to 
lie  churches.     All 
ntance  and  prom- 

ry  profitable  study 
But  the  sermons 
ouses  and  in  unfin- 
n  beforehand,  nor 
hers.     They  come 


from  the  heavens  like  the  dove  of  Bcthabara  ;  they  ut- 
ter  their  voice  and  are  gone. 

There  is  one  thing  noticeable  in  the  records  of  this 
time.     There  is  a  conciliatory  and  kindly  air  about  them. 
And  church  records  are,  like  the  Books  of  Chronicles 
in  the  Bible,  more  records  of  evil  than  of  good.     Only 
the  eddies  of  trouble  appear,  while  the  quiet  current 
of  deep  joyful  piety  goes  by  in  silence  and  unrecorded. 
Yet  there  are  lessons  in  church   records.     Before  his 
pastorate  there  is  a   frequency  and  a  sharpness  to  dis- 
cipline which  suggests  that  they  had  not  much  to  do 
but  dig  the  motes  out  of  their  brethren's  eyes.    But  in 
this   decade  a  change   appears.      There    is   a    recog- 
nition of  personal  rights,   and    personal   weaknesses, 
and,  marvelous  enough,  a  spirit  of  confession  on  the 
part  of  the  church  towards  others. 

Several  brethren  under  the  discussion  incidi:  tit  to  the 
education  of  ministers  (see  Chapter   III)  had  been  ex- 
cluded.    One  might  not  be  surprised  to  find  that  a  feel- 
ing of  bitterness  had  remained  in  his  heart  towards 
those  who  had  sought  to  exclude  him  from  the  church 
because  he  chose  rather  to  cultivate  his  mind  in  a  sem- 
inary and  rank  with  preachers,  than  rank  himself  with 
Baalam's  ass,  by  opening  his  mouth  for  the  Lord  to  fill 
it,  after  the  maxim  of  the  times.     In  1824  a  resolution 
was  recorded,  acknowledging  that  the  church  was  "too 
hasty  in  withdrawing  the  hand  of  fellowship."  and  later 
the  following  letter  was   sent   to  one  of   the  excluded 
members : 

The  Baptist  Church  in  Georgia  to  Sister .• 

The  difference  which  troubled  the  church  sometime 
smce  IS  doubtless  well  remembered  by  you      A  sepa 
ration  took  place  and  the  hand  of  fellowship  was  with- 


58 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


drawn  from  you  among  others.  But  upon  a  more  ma- 
ture deliberation  the  brethren  considered  that  they 
were  going  too  fast  in  withholding  this  hand.  They 
have  received  others  into  fellowship  who  were  in  the 
same  situation  as  yourself,  and  feel  desirious  to  do  all 
in  their  power  to  heal  the  breach  that  was  made.  And 
as  regards  yourself,  we  rescind  the  vote  that  laid  you 
under  admonition,  and  invite  you  to  take  your  place 
in  the  church, 

1 830- 1 839. 
This  was  a  decade  of  great  activity.     There  were 
questions  in  the  public  mind  which  caused  much  agita- 
tion.    Churches  were  divided  and  sometimes  broken 
up  by  them.     The  anti- Mason  movement  was  in  full 
strength.     As  the  case  presented  itself  to  many  of  that 
day,  it  was  evident  that  a  large  and  influential  associa- 
tion of  men  was  to  some  extent  involved  in  the  kid- 
napping of  one  William   Morgan,  of  Batavia,  N.  Y.. 
and  his  probable  murder  by  drowning  in  the  Niagara 
river.     And  those  who  did  not  have  any  hand  in  the 
foul  crime  were  thought  to  be  indifferent  about  hav- 
ing the  real  murderers  brought  to  justice.     A  fuller 
account  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  his  political 
record.     It  is  enough  for  this  place  to  note  that  the 
church  in  Georgia  took  the  matter  into  consideration. 

The  record  reads  : 

1830.     March;  first  Saturday.— Meeting  opened  by 

I  St  Voted  to  appoint  a  committee  to  draft  resolu- 
tions on  the  subject  of  Masonry,  to  present  for  the 
consideration  of  the  church  at  the  next  meetmg. 

2d.  Appointed  Elder  Mears,  Elder  Sabin  and  H.  li. 
Hale  committee. 

There  is  an  air  of   deliberation   about  this,   which 

shows  wisdom. 


■ki... 


poll  a  more  ma- 
crcd  that  they 
s  hand.  They 
lo  were  in  the 
sirious  to  do  all 
,ras  made.  And 
te  that  laid  you 
take  your  place 


/.  There  were 
scd  much  agita- 
metimcs  broken 
nent  was  in  full 

to  many  of  that 
fluential  associa- 
Ivcd  in  the  kid- 

Batavia,  N.  Y., 
;  in  the  Niagara 
my  hand  in  the 
ircnt  about  hav- 
ustice.  A  fuller 
r  on  his  political 
;  to  note  that  the 
to  consideration. 

:eting  opened  by 

to  draft  resolu- 
)  present  for  the 
<t  meeting. 

Sabin  and  H.  H. 

bout  this,   which 


rastonil  Rcconi, 


59 


The  second  Friday.  March.  1830.— Church  met  pur- 
suant to  appointment,  Called  on  the  committee  before 
mentioned,  and  voted  to  adopt  their  resolutions  on  the 
subject  of  Masonry,  as  follows: 

1.  Resolved,  That  in  our  opinion  the  secrets  and 
principles  of  Freemasonry  are  substantially  before  the 
public. 

2.  Resolved,  That  in  our  opinion  the  ritual  of 
the  fraternity  is  directly  opposed  to  the  Christian 
rcli^ri,,,!  in  its  oaths,  penalties,  ceremonies,  offices,  and 
III  Its  associating  professors  of  religion  with  men  of  all 
religions  and  men  of  no  religion  in  one  brotherhood. 
And  that  its  very  secrets  can  but  excite  the  jealousy 
of  a  free  people. 

3.  Resolved,  That  in  our  opinion  any  member  of  the 
Baptist  denomination  who  continues  to  adhere  to  the 
principles  and  practices  of  Freemasonry  has  sacrificed 
his  right  to  membership,  and,  after  due  forbearance 
and  gospel  measures  to  reclaim,  ought  to  be  expelled 
from  the  church. 

If  these  resolutions  seem  harsh  to  us,  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  question  was  at  that  time,  as  it  ap- 
peared to  them,  the  question  whether  a  Christian  ought 
to  be  associated  with  a  body  of  men  bound  by  penal- 
tics  terrible  unto  death,  and  which  some  of  the  order 
were  disposed  to  carry  out. 

The  clause  relative  to  associating  with  men  of  all 
religions  in  a  brotherhood  was  one  which  was  not  the 
outgrowth  of  the  Morgan  case  alone,  but  which  grew 
out  of  the  general  principles  of  the  gospel,  as  they  un- 
derstood them. 

The  matter  caused  some  trouble.  In  the  next  Octo- 
ber a  "letter  of  admonition"  was  voted  to  Bro.  D 

upon  complaint  that  "he  still  adhered  to  the  practices 
and  principles  of  Freemasonry."  And  in  December 
the  hand  of  fellowship  was  withdrawn. 


6o 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


In  April,  183 1,  a  meeting  was  called  to  consider  how 
sister  churches  should  be  re{,'arded  who  adhere  to 
"Masonry,"  and  the  following,'  resolution  was  passed: 

Resolved,  That,  as  we  have  considered  that  adhering 
Freemasons  have  forfeited  their  standing  in  the  Haptist 
church,  and  that  as  other  churches  of  our  order  are 
retaining  them  in  their  communion,  we  feel  in  duty 
bound  to  suspend  our  communion  with  all  churches  so 
long  as  they  hold  fellowship  with  Masonry. 

Perplexing  questions  arose  also  in  regard  to  the  rela- 
tion of  Baptist  churches  to  other  denominations  of 
Christians.  There  was  no  authoritative  standard  of 
faith  or  practice.  He  was  familiar  with  the  "Philadel- 
phia Confession,"  but  it  had  not  been  adopted  by  the 
church.  And  there  was  at  that  time  too  much  fear  of 
"standards"  to  allow  its  adoption  ;  though  they  would 
consult  it  as  an  expression  of  the  views  of  others. 

The  Baptist  position  was  in  some  respects  then  as 
now  anomalous.  The  scripture  gave  to  them  no  de- 
liverance directly  upon  some  matters  ;  and  they  were 
compelled  to  make  the  application  of  principles  for 
themselves.  Scripture  is  plain  as  regards  the  practice 
of  the  apostolic  churches.  But  we  have  questions 
arising  out  of  certain  later  departures  from  the  apos- 
tolic example,  which  are  not  even  supposable  in  apos- 
tolic times.  And  to  adjust  our  relations  to  these  semi- 
obedient  disciples  is  a  task  for  reason  and  charity  to 

attempt. 

The  church  at  Georgia  was  formulating  for  itself 
statements  and  rules  arising  under  these  circumstances. 
The  Baptist  churches  who  gave  shape  to  the  London 
Confession,  in  1689,  and  those  in  America  who  in  1742 
had  adopted  the  Philadelphia  Confession,  thought  the 
ground  all  over  and  made  their  plain  deliverances. 


.^—-■i;M?:H'V.    • 


0  consiiler  how 
/ho  adhere  to 
an  was  passed ; 

1  that  adhering 
J  in  the  Haptist 

our  order  are 
c  feel  in  duty 
all  churches  so 
iry. 

;ard  to  the  rcla- 
nominations  of 
ve   standard   of 

the    "I'hiladel- 
doptcd  by  the 
o  much  fear  of 
iiyh  they  would 
of  others, 
aspects  then  as 
o  them   no  de- 
and  they  were 
'    principles   for 
•ds  the   practice 
have   questions 
from  the   apos- 
posable  in  apos- 
is  to  these  semi- 
n  and  charity  to 

dating  for  itself 
c  circumstances, 
to  the  London 
rica  who  in  1742 
sn,  thought  the 
eliverances. 


Pastoral  Record.  Q  i 

The  Baptists  of  New  I<  ngland  solved  the  problem  in 
the  same  way.  Those  of  the  Southern  States,  late 
awaking  from  the  lethargic  inlluences  of  slavery,  arc 
just  now  puzzling  their  heads  over  the  same  question. 
It  is  the  old  conflict  of  forms  with  spirit :  of  ritual  with 
worship  :  of  law  with  prophets.  A  conflict  in  which 
nothing  but  a  loving  and  tender  bra^'ery  in  defense  of 
God's  truth  will  guide  men  .safely  through.  ^  But  one 
which  we  must  face  somewhere  in  our  course'of  Chris- 
tian  educ.ition. 

The  first  question  raised  was  in  the  matter  of  Com- 
munion. Ought  the  church  members  to  go  to  the 
Lord's  Supper  with  other  denominations  ?  The  final 
decision  is  recorded  as  follows  : 

Voted  that  the  church  give  Sister a  letter  of 

admonition  for  communing  with  the  Methodi.sts. 

Later,  letters  were  refused  to  those  wishing  to  unite 
with  other  denominations  on  the  ground  that  by  so  do- 
ing  they  were  "violating  their  covenant  obligations 
with  the  church;"  and  were  also  "  countenancintr 
error."  ^ 

In  the  matter  of  what  were  called  "spurious  bap- 
tisms" the  action  of  the  church  was  in  accord  with  the 
present  views  of  "Landmarkers. "  A  meeting  to  '  'con- 
sider and  deliberate"  on  this  subject  was  called  and  the 
the  following  action  taken  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient,  and  unscriptural 
to  receive  to  membership  persons  baptized  by  others 
than  regular  Baptist  ministers. 

Councils  of  Baptist  brethren  met  with  this  decision 
concerning  their  authority. 

Elder  Phineas  Culver  had  been  silenced  by*  Council 
for  some  alleged  heresy  in  regard  to  the  Sabbath.     The 


52  Lt/c  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

church  at  Georgia  (and  we  may  presume  other  chur- 
ches) was  led  to  review  the  action,  and  this  is  the  de- 
cision : 

Resolved,  That  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  Coun- 
cil proceeded  contrary  to  the  rule  of  the  gospel  in 
arrogating  to  themselves  the  authority  to  silence  the 
said  Culver  without  the  authority  or  consent  of  the 
church  of  which  he  was  a  member.  .        .       r 

Resolved,  That,  as  we  learn  that  the  sentiments  of 
Elder  Culver  in  regard  to  the  Sabbath  question  are  the 
same  as  those  of  the  church  to  which  he  belonged,  we 
shall  consider  him  as  a  regular  minister  of  the  gospel. 
In  1833  there  had  become  a  more  seated  opinion 
upon  these  matters,  and  a  statement  of  principles  is 
given  by  submitting  questions  for  church  action,  the 
record  reads  as  follows  : 

February  20,  i833.-Church  «^et  pursuant  to  ap- 
pointment and  called  on  committee  of  November,  first 
Friday,  1832,  to  report. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  committee   as  fol- 

^°T  "  Is  it  consistent  to  hold  communion  with  churches 
who  receive  and  retain  members  who  hold  to  principles 
and  practices  for  which  this  church  would  feel  them- 
selves bound  to  exclude  members  ? 

2  Is  it  consistent  with  gospel  order  to  hold  con- 
nection and  correspondence  with  an  Association  of 
churches,  which  holds  churches  in  its  connection  with 
which  we  can  not  commune  at  the  Lord  s  table. 

X  Is  it  consistent  to  ordain  men  to  the  ministry, 
and  baptize  men  into  the  church,  whom  we  could  not 
receive  to  communion  ?  •  •  4.^, 

A  Can  this  church  receive  and  employ  a  minister 
as  an  administrator  of  the  ordinances  who  himself  has 
not  been  baptized  by  a  regular  gospel  minister,  and 
maintains  or  contends  for  such  baptisms  as  valid  ? 

c      Resolved,  That  this  church    has  by  former  reso- 
lutions answered  the  first  query  in  the  negative. 


me  other  chur- 
this  is  the  de- 

thattheCoun- 
■  the  gospel  in 
r  to  silence  the 
consent  of  the 

e  sentiments  of 
question  are  the 
he  belonged,  we 
:  of  the  gospel, 
seated  opinion 
of  principles  is 
irch  action,   the 

pursuant  to  ap- 
November,  first 

jmmittee  as  fol- 

ion  with  churches 
hold  to  principles 
would  feel  them- 

irder  to  hold  con- 
n  Association  of 
i  connection  with 
ird's  table. 
1  to  the  ministry, 
am  we   could  not 

mploy  a  minister 
5  who  himself  has 
spel  minister,  and 
ms  as  valid  ? 
as  by  former  reso- 
i  negative. 


Pastoral  Record. 


63 


6.  Resolved,  That  we  answer  the  second  quer^'  m 
the  negative.  '' 

7-  Resolved,  That  we  answer  the  third  question  in 
the  negative. 

8.  Resolved,  That  we  dismiss  the  fourth  query  for 
the  present. 

Through  all  these  questions  he  at  least  guided  the 
church  without  serious  divisions.  His  own  views  may 
or  may  not  have  been  expressed.  He  was  not  the  man 
to  rebel  against  the  action,  if  he  did  not  agree.  He 
would  trust  to  the  results  of  long-continued  teach- 
ing to  change  the  opinions  which  seemed  to  him  er- 
roneous. 

This  decade  was  also  the  time  when  the  abolition  of 
slavery  was  a  question  of  earnest  and  sometimes  bitter 
discussion.  The  Abolition  party  was  conceived,  though 
not  yet  born.  There  were  societies  for  promoting  the 
discussion  of  the  matter,  for  the  distribution  of  tracts, 
and  the  formation  of  public  opinion.  The  ne.xt  decade 
was  the  time  when  the  feeling  took  shape  in  a  party 
pledged  to  the  overthrow  of  the  devilish  system.  From 
his  earliest  boyhood  he  had  been  a  hater  of  it,  and  as 
he  grew  in  the  grace  of  God  and  in  a  clear  sense  of  the 
evils  of  the  practice,  his  whole  soul  was  on  fire  with 
zeal  to  remove  it  from  the  nation.  Yet  he  was  not  in 
favor  of  the  Abolition  party.  But  in  those  first  years 
of  the  agitation  he  preached  with  power  against  it. 

This  was  also  the  birth  decade  of  the  temperance 
movement  in  Vermont.  Like  all  such  movements,  the 
source  of  its  power  was  in  the  personal  abstinence  of 
the  masses  of  men,  and  this  was  cultivated  by  the 
churches.     They  are  "the  light  of  the  world." 

In  i83(>  ^his  resolution  is  reported  by  a  committee, 
of  which  he  was  chairman  : 


64 


Life  of  Rev,  Alvah  Sabin. 


il 


Resolved,  That  we  approve  of  the  objects  of  the  A. 
T  S  (American  Temperance  Society)  and  will  second 
tlieir  views  by  exerting  our  personal  influence  m  carry- 
incf  forward  the  reform. 

2  Resolved,  That  we  will  refrain  from  the  use  of  ar- 
dent spirits  for  ourselves  and  our  families,  except  as  a 

medicine.  .  .       .     .    ,.,,;„ 

X  Resolved,  That  in  our  opinion  it  is  highly  im- 
proper for  a  professor  of  religion  at  this  time,  with  all 
the  light  we  have  on  the  subject  of  the  practicability 
of  entire  abstinence  and  on  what  was  once  called  a 
"temperate"  use  of  ardent  spirits,  to  use  it,  except  as 

3  medicine.  .  ,-^1.4.11  ^,.^ 

4  Resolved,  That  it  is  our  sincere  desire  that  all  our 
brethren  and  sisters  would  adopt  the  principle  of  entire 
abstinence  with  the  above  exception. 

Such  work  as  this  throughout  the  state  prepared  the 
way  for  legislation. 

The  State  Legislature  at  first  attempted  to  restrict 
the  trade  by  license  ;  but  this  was  found,  as  it  always 
is,  to  be  only  a  legal  defense  for  the  better  class  of  sa- 
loons, and  to  have  no  real  efficiency  in  stopping  the 
use  of  alcoholic  drinks.     After  much  effort,  the  Maine 
law,  as  it  was  called,  was  enacted  and  the  sentiment  of 
temperance— that  is,  the  habit  of  total  abstinence— was 
so  generally  cultivated,  in  response  to  the  preaching 
and  lecturing,  that  the  law  has  had  a  good  degree 
of  efficiency  ever  since.     It  was  his  habit  to  preach  on 
the  subject.     He  always  did  it  with  fairness  and  kind.  • 
ness  to  men,  however  he  might  hate  the  evil  itself. 

In  addition  to  this,  he  was  very  apt  in  bringing  to 
notice  the  evils  of  the  drinking  habit  by  illustrations. 
It  has  been  said  of  Dr.  E.  G.  Robinson,  that  when  he 
was  pastor  in  Cincinnati,  the  question  cf  slavery  was 
shut  out   from  the  pulpit   by  a  vote  of  the    church ; 


■it 


ects  of  the  A. 
md  will  second 
luence  in  carry- 

m  the  use  of  ar- 
iies,  except  as  a 

it  is  highly  im- 
lis  time,  with  all 
le  practicability 
s  once  called  a 
jse  it,  except  as 

esire  that  all  our 
rinciple  of  entire 

ate  prepared  the 

tipted  to  restrict 
md,  as  it  always 
setter  class  of  sa- 
y  in  stopping  the 
effort,  the  Maine 
the  sentiment  of 
[  abstinence — was 
to  the  preaching 
d  a  good  degree 
labit  to  preach  on 
airness  and  kind.  • 
the  evil  itself, 
pt  in  bringing  to 
t  by  illustrations, 
ison,  that  when  he 
ion  cf  slavery  was 
te  of  the    church ; 


\ 


SwU«ia.««?<*»*a'**«** 


m  1 


m 


aisigasffj5»^«Kwai»gs*«w«<^^'" ' 


f 

I 


( 

<: 

h 
I 
s! 

M 

o 


Pastoral  Record. 


65 


but  he  used  illustrations  from  the  condition  of  the 
slave  and  told  anecdotes  of  their  religious  experiences 
which  were  penetrating  the  minds  of  his  hearers  as  the 
sun  goes  through  the  ice,  melting  all  the  way  through, 
so  that  he  was  really  a  mjghty  preacher  of  freedom. 
With  a  similar  wisdom  did  Father  Sabin  fill  his  hearers 
with  the  terribleness  of  drink  and  blessings  of  sober- 
ness. 

When  we  consider  that  these  political  themes  were 
not  merely  questions  of  governmental  policy,  but  were 
subjects  on  which  the  conscience  of  every  Christian 
ought  to  have  a  decided  deliverance,  we  see  that  there 
was  just  occasion  for  him  to  preach  on  the  topics  of  po- 
htical  interest:  and  giving  time  to  civil  affairs,  was  not 
leaving  his  legitimate  work  as  a  teacher  and  preacher 
of  that  gospel  which  tells  of  the  sacredness  of  human 
lite,  of  liberty,  and  of  sobriety. 

In  1833  (January  20)  his  wife  died,  leaving  him  with 
SIX  children,  the  oldest  of  whom  was  about  12  years 
The  tenderness  of  his  love  for  that  wife  and  the  sweet- 
ness of  her  memory  to  him  we  can  not  better  record 
than  by  referring  to  the  fragment  of  a  record  from  his 
own  pen,  which  is  added  in  a  chapter  near  the  end 
of  this  book. 

He  afterwards  married  Miss  Sarah  Marsh  (November 
14.  1833).  with  whom  he  lived  until    1874,  when  she 
died  childless  at  De  Kalb,  111.,  with  his  daughter  Anna 
She  was  an  energetic  woman,  who  added  not  a  little  to 
his  help  in  supporting  a  family  on  a  meager  salary 
If  at  times  she  seemed  severe  in  her  judgments  on  him 
she  had  some  reason;   for  by  the  scarcity  of  means  the 
woman  of  the  house  is  sorely  tried.     Her  carefulness 
of  his  wants  is  well  indicated  by  a  remark  of  his  after 


ill         '-S* 


66  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

her  death:  "I  have  never  been  without  buttoni  nor 
lacked  a  clean  shirt." 

In  the  year  183^  he  was  called  upon  by  the  State 
Convention  of  the  Baptists  to  go  as  its  agent  to  all  the 
churches  and  enlist  them,  in  the  missionary  work. 
This  was  a  service  taking  the  greater  part  of  a  year. 
We  cive  his  own  account  of  the  work  : 

"I  began  my  labor,  on  the  4th  of  December.     My 
pay  was  to  be   one   dollar  a  day  and   niy  expenses^ 
There  was  no  r.ilroad  in   the   state.     I  furnished   my 
own  horse  and  saddle.     My  trips  were  arranged  so  that 
I  could  take  a  circle  and   begone   about  a  month  at  a 
time      Rev.  Mr    Downs   (the    maker   afterwards    of 
Downs'  Elixir)  was  engaged  to  preach  for  me  at  Geor- 
gia.    I  visited  every  town  that  had  a  Baptist  church  in 
ft  and  preached   as  often  as  there  was  a  chance      At 
every  place  I  stated  my  mission  and  gave   opportuni  y 
or  people    to    contribute.     The    sums    were   usually 
small,  but  there  were  many  of  them,  and  the  total  was 
a"ge;  than  was    generally    received.     I  have  never 
heard  that  the  Board  was  not  satisfied  with  my  success 
I  can  say  with  great  satisfaction  that  I  was  cordially  re^ 
ceived  by  all  the  brethren  upon   whom  I  called,    and 
my  lectures  were  as  well  attended  as  I   could  expect 
And  here  I  would  say  with  emphasis  that  in  the  course 
of  my  travels  I  was  often  invited  to  share  the  hospital^ 
ity  of  brethren  of  other  denominations,   and  I   found 
them  as  kind  and  affectionate  as  they  could  be  to  one  of 
their  own  ministers.  In  many  cases  they  paid  as  liberally 
to  my  object  as  did  my  Baptist  brethren.     Their  kind- 
ness left  an  impression  on  my  mind  that  ^^as  never  been 
effaced.     This  was  especially  true  of  the   Cong  ega 
tional  people.     In  October  I  closed  my  work.     It  has 


kid 


--*,<T«<^.fe*USi>.?  M.?«SS>W.. 


.V  .■.!(»**«/!!i*ac.lt-ii=- 


iSi:M-4*iS«?3"'-<«*9'^^'''''^^^'^'*'^*^*^"'**^** 


it  buttonj  nor 

by  the  State 
igent  to  all  the 
sionary  work, 
part  of  a  year. 

)ecember.     My 
my  expenses. 
;  furnished   my 
irranged  so  that 
lut  a  month  at  a 
afterwards    of 
for  me  at  Geor- 
iaptist  church  in 
3  a  chance.     At 
ive  opportunity 
js    were   usually 
nd  the  total  was 
I  have   never 
with  my  success, 
was  cordially  re- 
am I  called,    and 
I   could   expect, 
that  in  the  course 
liare  the  hospital- 
3ns,   and  I   found 
could  be  to  one  of 
2y  paid  as  liberally 
ren.     Their  kind- 
hat  has  never  been 
of  the   Congrega- 
my  work.     It  has 


Pastoral  Record. 


«7 


been  pleasant  to  me  and  I  thought  was  useful  to  the 
cause.  I  gave  my  account  to  the  Treasurer,  Mr  John 
Conant,  of  Brandon,  and  surrendered  my  agency  I 
had  expended  ten  dollars  in  the  year.  My  compensa- 
tion  was  small.  My  farm  meanwhile  was  poorly  culti- 
vated, and  I  was  poorer  at  the  end  than  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year :  but  it  gave  me  a  rich  opportunity  to  get  ac 
quamted  with  my  brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  other 
Christians  whom  I  learned  highly  to  respect." 

Among  the  incidents  of  this  mission  the  following 
will  reveal  some  traits  of  the  man  better  than  any  at- 
tempt to  state  them  : 

"At  Brownington,  when  I  arrived,  there  was  a  meet- 
mg  of  the  Freewill  Baptists  in  progress.     I  went  to  it  in 
company  with  Bro.  Baldwin.     We  found  that  there  was 
to  be  an  ordination.     The  services  were  in  a  barn      A 
platform  was  built  at  one  end  for  the  preacher  and  the 
council  to  sit  upon.     I  went  up  to  my  place  by  means 
of  a  ladder.     The  manner  of  preaching  was  a  new  one  to 
me.     It  was   the  old   New  Light,,  sing-song  method, 
brought  down  from  a  hundred  years  before.     When 
preaching  the  minister  had  a  nasal   twang  to  his  voice 
which  he  never  had  in  other  conversations.     His   sen- 
tences seemed   like  measured  ^blank  verse  ;  and  when 
the  sentence   lacked   its   measure,  the  deficency  was 
made  up   by  the  words  'ah— hum,    ah— hum.'     The 
praying  had  the  form  and  tone  of  chanting,  and  had  to 
myear  a  pleasant  music. 

*  •!  attended  several  meetings,  one  of  them  in  a  school 
house.  The  preacher  asked  me  to  sit  with  him  and  I 
consented.  As  he  waxed  warm  in  his  discourse  he 
became  emphatic  in  his  words  and  brought  down  his 
hand  repeatedly  on  the  top  of  my  head.     So  for  once  I 


^■s.'g^ji'ttffi^iMte'f^^*^-^"-'-*' 


i 

Hi  I 

I  li 


Ml 


gg  life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

had  the  double  privilege  of  having  the  truth  poured 
Lto  my  ears  and  knocked  into  my  skull.  I  preached  for 
themTveral  times,  .nd  was  treated   with  brotherly 

'''"^At'another  place  was  a   Brother  Michal.  a  colored 
„,an  from  the   West  Indies,  who  had  b-n  a    slave. 
With  him  I  held  a  meeting  and  w.th  great  Profit.     At 
one  Place  we  stopped  for  dinner,   and  the  man  of  the 
rusfa:ked  if  he'c'ould  be  excused  from  attendmg.  say^ 
ine  that  he  had  hired  three  yoke  of  oxen  to  plow  and 
could  not  have  them  at  any  other  time.  Brother  M.chal 
a;^thathe  should  need  to  take  a  little  time  to   - 
sider  the  matter.     'But',  said  he.  'if  jt  had  been  five 
yoke,  we  could  have  decided  It  now. 

In  1837,  came  the   great  financial  pamc     By    he 
concurrence  of  sundry  causes,  among  wh.ch  were  the 
vast  importation  of  foreign  goods,  the  mcrease  of  trade 
upon  wowed  capital,  unparalleled  speculation  m  the 
"pSc  lands,  the  failure  of  the  wheat  -P^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
of  the  deposits  of  public  moneys  from  the  United  btates 
Bank   one  of  the  most  disastrous  and  wide-spread  pan- 
Bank,  one  01 X  t         Following    this  came  a 
ics  swept  over  the  coumry.  n  «.Uo«.  tv,pv  had 
great  revival  of  religion.     As  men  saw  all  that  they  had 
fn  this  world's  goods  vanish,  they  turned  with  a  new  m 
teres'tlward  the  riches  which  "moth  doth  not  currupt 
nor  thieves  break  through  and  steal. 

I840-I849' 

A  country  parish  like  Georgia  gives  in  its  regular 
wo^k  not  much  of  the  unusual  to  break  the  monotony 
Tff  record  like  thi.  The  men  who  go  ^^^^^Z^^t 
.«  another  and  form  new  acquaintances,  and  meet  new 
difficutes  ha^e  a  record  of  trials  and  victories  that  .s  m- 


-  rt*aas«aieis*ir«>-'Mv- 


^,,.,..^..*«.*>«1^-*i9«*«*«^^'''-«**«**'^^ 


truth  poured 
I  preached  for 
vith  brotherly 

chal,  a  colored 
been  a    slave. 
;at  profit.     At 
the  man  of  the 
attending,  »ay- 
;n  to  plow,  and 
Brother  Michal 
i  time  to  con- 
t  had  been  five 

panic.  By  the 
which  were  the 
increase  of  trade 
peculation  in  the 
rop,  the  removal 
he  United  States 
ivide-spread  part- 
ing   this  came  a 

all  that  they  had 
ed  with  a  new  in- 

doth  not  currupt 


ives  in  its  regular 
eak  the  monotony 
go  from  one  field 
:es,  and  meet  new 
victories  that  is  in- 


Pastoral  Record,  (U 

tcresting  to  those  who  come  after.  But  the  man  who 
stays  in  his  field,  who  by  dint  of  study,  and  patience; 
by  the  exercise  of  great  forbearance  overcomes  troubles 
to  whicli  others  yield,  has  a  tame  history  to  write.  But 
it  is  not  so  tame  to  live. 

One  of  the  oldest  pastors  in  our  day,  in  New  York 
city,  said  to  a  young  man  who  was  congratulating  him 
on  his  long  pastorate:  "To  you  it  looks  very  easy, 
but  there  are  times  when  we  hang  on  with  our  teeth 
and  nails." 

In  those  days  the  first  flush  of  success  was  over  :  it 
was  demonstrated  that  he  was  a  man,  not  a  boy.     He 
had  used  up  the  delight  with  which  a  young  preacher 
studies  and  presents  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  for  the 
first    time.     To    use   the   term    reverently,   the    "ro- 
mance" of  the  work  was  gone.     It  was  now  the  daily 
duty  of  a  "good  soldier  of  Jesus."    Long  acquaintance 
with  men  was  giving  him  new  and  not  always  delightful 
views  of  humanity.     The  true  nature  of  his  own  heart 
was  coming  to  his  sight.     Those  deeper  and  subtler 
truths  of  men  and  of  the  Bible  were  being  mastered. 
He  was  passing  from  the  enthusiastic  young  man  to 
the  estate  of  the  veteran,  winning  the  confidence  now 
of  those   cautious   and  conservative   leaders  of  others 
who    "lay  hands   suddenly   on  no   man."     Could  we 
have  his   heart  history   we  should  find   abundance  of 
material  for  biography.     But  that  was  not  written,  and 
we  are  facing  the  even  page  of  ten  years'  preaching— a 
decade  of  exhorting  and  persuading  men  to  be  recon- 
ciled with  God.     Not  that   its  glory  is  dim.     No  year 
of  preaching  is   without  its    glory.     But  there  is    no 
special  glory.     The  evenness  of  his  life  was,  however, 
broken  by  his  political  duties,    but  the  pastoral  work 


^|itS^t;^S)^*:'.'i'«'*^-'"^'  -■'' 


:;ii 


70  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabtn. 

went  smoothly  on.  Every  year  but  one  of  this  decade 
ho  was  in  the  legislature,  or  upon  the  bench  as  Assis- 
tant  Judge  of  Franklin  county. 

1850-1859. 

Another  decade  of  steady  work,  but  broken  by  four 
years'  absence  from  fiome.     In  1852  he  was  elected  as 
Representative  in  Congress  from  the  Second  District  of 
Vermont,  and  on  that  duty  he  was  absent  four  years, 
except  during  the  summer  months.     In  his  absence 
the  Rev.  Eli   B.  Smith,  D.  D.,  then  President  of  the 
New  Hampton  Literary  and  Theological  Institution  at 
Fairfax,  was  a  most  acceptable  supply  for  the  pulpit. 
Dnring  the  summer  Mr.  Sabin  preached,  and  one  sum- 
mer there  was  an  extensive  revival  among  his  people. 
During  this  period  there  was  a  change  in  his  habit 
of  preaching.     Hitherto  he  had  been  deterred  from 
reading  his  sermons  by  the  fact  that  he  could  not  read 
writing  as  readily  as  was  necessary  for  him  to  do  in  the 
use  of  a  manuscript. 

But  his  experience  in  Washington,  where  he  had  an 
average  of  ten  letters  to  read  and  answer  for  each  work- 
ing day  of  the  year  overcame  both  the  reluctance  to 
write  and  the  difficulty  in  reading.     Added  to  this  was 
the  fact  that  his  increasing  years  and  experience  had 
led  him,  as  it  does  other  men,  to  rely  more  on  the  truth 
presented    than  on    the  semi-mesmeric  influence    of 
extempore  speaking.     He  accordingly  began  to  write 
his  sermons,  and  this  became  after  awhile  his  habit. 
But  up  to  that  time  he  had  never  had  a  scrap  of  paper 
with  him  in  the  pulpit.     His  association  with  educated 
men  at  Washington,  and  his  occasional  opportunity  to 
hear  a  cultured  ministry  had  the  effect  of  making  him 


*A*Miar.;.S«^y!*sJrV'^-'i.  <!?-'i»^iit^^ 


«i«««*jg«iiVri**A;»S**^-^'l--SM;.>A/«*^ 


^!k'i;>*K;«»ipfr''-»*'*«*'»»**^'*~'" 


of  this  decade 
:nch  as  Assis- 


>rokcn  by  four 
was  elected  as 
:ond  District  of 
cnt  four  years, 
[n  his  absence 
esidcnt  of  the 
1  Institution  at 
for  the  pulpit. 
,  and  one  sum- 
ng  his  people. 
ye  in  his  habit 
deterred  from 
could  not  read 
lim  to  do  in  the 

k^herc  he  had  an 
;r  for  each  work- 
le  reluctance  to 
Jded  to  this  was 
experience  had 
nore  on  the  truth 
ric  influence    of 
f  began  to  write 
while  his  habit, 
a  scrap  of  paper 
)n  with  educated 
al  opportunity  to 
t  of  making  him 


Pastoral  Recotd. 

more  careful  and  systematic  in  his  work. 
a  more  critical  judge  of  his  own  efforts. 

i80o-iB0g. 


71 

He  became 


After  the  return  from  Washington  in  1857,  his  po- 
litical  life  was  about  ended.  With  the  exception  of  '61 
and  '62  as  senator  from  his  county,  his  time  was  given 
to  his  pastoral  work.  But  he  was  getting  to  be  an  old 
man.  He  was  6j  years  old  at  the  beginning  of  the  de- 
cade, and  therefore  Ty  at  its  close. 

During  this  period  his  mind  was  most  earnestly  en- 
listed in  the  country's  welfare.  When  he  left  Congress 
in  '57  he  was  convinced  that  war  must  come,  and  when 
it  had  come,  he  preached  and  prayed  as  he  had  done 
all  his  life  for  freedom  and  the  Union. 

But  the  best  of  his  work  was  comforting  the  families 
of  those  who  mourned  the  absence  and  too  often  the 
death  of  father  or  husband  or  friend  on  the  field  of 
battle.  But  while  this  was  true,  he  was  carefully  in- 
structing his  church. 

He  had  taken  up  the  habit  of  preaching  series  of 
sermons  on  connected  themes.     One  long  series  of  this 
time  reached  from  January  until  May,  having  the  usual 
two  sermons  each  Sunday,— one  at  half  past  ten  A.M., 
and  the  other  at  one  P.  M. 

This  series  was  upon  different  texts  in  the  Sermon  on 
the  Mount.  Following  this  was  another  on  the  texts 
in  the  7th  of  Luke,  lasting  several  months. 

A  study  of  these  sermons,  which  have  been  kept,  is 
a  feast  of  exposition.  If  the  quality  of  the  evangelist 
had  fallen  into  the  background,  that  of  the  practical 
expositor  had  come  in  its  place. 


»i**»*a»*.rtSiW*'' 


-2  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabtn. 

But  the  years  were  telling.  His  children  had  all 
moved  to  the  Far  West.  The  warnings  of  nature  and 
the  ties  of  family  united  to  impress  upon  him  the  duty 
of  giving  up  the  pastorate.  It  was  a  great  sorrow  to  h.m, 
but  it  seemed  a  necessity.  In  1867  the  arrangement 
was  completed,  and  August  13th  the  last  trunk  was 
loaded  in,    and  he  and  his  wife  took  their   seats  m  the 

carriage.  .  .   u    1 

The  flood  of  memory  came  rolhng  m  and  broke 
the  barriers  of  his  control.  He  burst  out  with  crying, 
and  could  not  refrain  it.  As  they  were  driven  swiftly 
away  there  came  back  to  the  ears  of  the  assembled 
neighbors  the  sobs  that  could  not  be  smothered. 

He  went  to  Sycamore,  111.,  to  live  with  an  only  son, 
Benjamin.  There  he  preached  a  year  as  a  supply  for  a 
feeble  Baptist  church.  But  he  was  homesick  and 
troubled.  He  was  to  them  nothing  but  '  'an  old  broken 
down  horse,"  as  he  used  to  say.  The  respect  and  love 
that  had  been  shown  him  in  Vermont  for  fifty  years 
could  not  be  found  among  strangers.  At  Georgia  they 
were  as  anxious  to  have  him  return  as  he  was  to  do  so. 
and  after  two  years  and  nine  months  he  gladly  re- 
turned to  them,  in  the  month  of  May,  1870.  So  when 
the  decade  closed  he  was  in  the  old  field  of  labor. 

His  wife  was,  however,  in  Illinois  with  the  children, 
and  he  boarded  with  his  brother-in-law  Alban  Mears, 
with  whom  and  his  excellent  wife  he  found  a  mcst 
comfortable  home  and  the  tenderest  care. 

1 870- 1 876. 

In  Georgia  he  continued  to  preach  as  a  ''stated  sup- 
ply" until  October.  1876.  when  he  gave  up  the  work 
and  went  to  lUinois  to  finish  his  Hfe  in  quiet,  though  he 


hildren  had  all 
of  nature  and 
n  him  the  duty 
it  sorrow  to  him, 
the  arrangement 
last  trunk  was 
leir   seats  in  the 

g  in   and  broke 
out  with  crying, 
e  driven   swiftly 
f  the  assembled 
mothered, 
irith  an  only  son, 
as  a  supply  for  a 
IS  homesick  and 
It  '  'an  old  broken 
:  respect  and  love 
It  for  fifty  years 
At  Georgia  they 
i  he  was  to  do  so, 
hs  he  gladly  re- 
,  1870.    So  when 
eld  of  labor. 
Nith  the  children, 
iw  Alban  Mears, 
he  found  a  most 
care. 


as  a  "stated  sup- 
jave  up  the  work 
n  quiet,  though  he 


Pastoral  Recotd. 

.11  ~::r<,;ir'  '™='.  "«""-'>'■  or  ,^^ 

sax  .hae  .Cere  „'     '':X  'l,le"i t'^  7. '""■  '° 
the  church       R»  u  J  ,       oiessed  m  buildmg  up 

would,     Thelovett"     hT/f   T-  '°''"^^'  '""^  ^  '>'= 
pleasure  for  IZT^t^V:  """  "^"^  ■'  ^'  '""^''  =" 

^^i  it  :;rpet2oVtr. "'  -"'■•^  -^o-' 

church  or  partv    Ar,7,h  .  ""•  '•^8"'>less  of 

he  dwelt  wr„t.  *    fT  "''"P™"'>'<^h 

death.  *        Mt,sfact,on   until  the  day  of   his 

loved  the  veryinds  of  that     r'"^ '''"■''*"■     "^ 
Of  the  .eetin^hTut  "  O X"  on"'  h^'ha'd'   '*"; 
w..h  jj,ourni„g  friends  at  the  grave,  ta     he  h'^"'^ 
ground,  until  thewhole  place  seemed  h,n       !       '^'"^ 
His  friend,  and  early  associrteTlTd  bee  '  Ctd'^^r'- 
in  such  numbers  that-  fh^.v  .  Juried  there 

-de  the  <,uieT..pil^:„rdTd™r''  ^^'""'"'""^ 

cjt^n"r.rofririrr '■"•'''*"'' 

The  firmament  was  quick  with  life. 

anlliLThlsrinTwaVrar;  "T"  "=  '-="• 
body  was  weak.  Added  to  this^^  '''*™'  """  "^^ 
church.  Who  would  co°e  ^^hVr:-:*?'"";^ 
th.sgenem,ion  who  will  take  the  piaceT  """  '" 


74  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

As  early  as  October,  1873,  he  wrote  to  a  grandson 
then  studying  for  the  ministry  as  follows : 

"I  have  had  it  on  my  mind  to  write  you  for  a  long 
time,  though  you  have  not  answered  my  last  letter,  in 
which  I  made  an  informal  proposition  to  you  to  come 
to  Georgia  as  soon  as  you  get  through  your  studies. 
*        *         *     I  am  of  the   opinion  it  might   be  as 
well   for  you   to  begin   here  as  anywhere.     You  will 
have  a  friendly  congregation,  and  one  that  will  wish  you 
well,  and  rejoice  at  your  prosperity.     You  can  form  a 
character  here  as  well  as  anywhere,  and  the  people  are 
not  desirous  of  changing  ministers  often.    Elder  Mears 
came  here  in  1807  and  preached  until  1826;  then  I  be- 
gan and  have  continued  until  now.  If  you  should  come 
and  stay  as  long  as  I  have,  it  would  go  some  ways  into 
the  next  century,  and  make  a  ministry  of  father,  son, 
and  grandson*  of  more  than  an  hundred  years.     This 
would  be  quite  an  item  in  church  history. 

"I  know  that  it  is  difficult  to  make  any  definite  en- 
gagement so  far  ahead.  Still  if  your  mind  seems  to 
lead  that  way,  you  could  say  so  to  me  and  there  would 
be  nothing  irrevocable.  But  if  you  have  ho  such  lead- 
ings say  so,  and  I  will  say  no  more  about  it,  as  I  have 
n    o  sposition  to  dictate  in  this  matter. 

"This  has  seemed  to  me  one  way  in  which  my  long 
services  might  terminate  with  some  pro^.pect  of  the 
prosperous  continuation  of  the  Baptist  church  in  my 
native  town.  Give  my  love  to  C ,  and  to  the  name- 
less one.     I  remain, 

"Affectionally  yours, 

"Alvah  Sabin." 


♦Strictly  it  would  be  father,  son-in-law,  and  great-grandson. 
—[Ed. 


e  to  a  grandson 
ivs: 

e  you  for  a  long 
Tiy  last  letter,  in 
to  you  to  come 
gh  your  studies. 
!  it  might   be  as 
'here.     You  will 
hat  will  wish  you 
You  can  form  a 
id  the  people  are 
en.    Elder  Mears 
1  1826;  then  Ibe- 
you  should  come 
;o  some  ways  into 
■y  of  father,  son, 
dred  years.     This 
ory. 

:  any  definite  en- 
ir  mind  seems  to 
;  and  there  would 
lave  ho  such  lead- 
bout  it,  as  J  have 
r. 

in  which  my  long 
:  pro^.pect  of  the 
tist  church  in  my 
,  and  to  the  name- 


Alvah  Sabin." 
,  and  great-grandson. 


,  Pastoral  Record.  75 

There  were  "leadings"  in  the  mind  of  this  grandsdh 
toward  that  place.  Indeed,  it  was  his  desire.  But 
the  Head  of  the  church  had  other  thoughts,  so  that 
the  way  was  not  yet  opened  for  him  to  leave  the 
work. 

April  6,  1876,  he  wrote  again  : 

"I  received  your  last  letter  some  time  since.     It  has 
been  of  use  to  me  in  one  respect.     It  has  enabled  me 
to  come  to  one  conclusion,  namely,  that  it  is  my  duty 
to  go  and  live  with  my  children  next  fall.     I   have  sig- 
nified my  determination  to  the  brethren  on  several  oc- 
casions, and  have  suggested  that  they  should  put  the 
parsonage  in  order,  so  as  to   be  ready  to  receive  a  man 
whenever  there  should  one  be  found.  They  have  made 
a  commendable  effort  and  have  raised  about  $1400  for 
the  purpose.         *         *         *     Deacon  Hale. has  been 
up  to  Derby  to  see  Rev.   Mr.  Lorimer  and  wife.     He 
thinks  that  they  may  be  persuaded   to  come.     If  they 

A  fnV'f '''^'   ''"'""^^   stay  a  good  many  years, 
and  I  shall  feel  relieved  of  a  great  anxiety." 

This  plan  was  perfected,  and  his  pastorate  ended. 
During  all  this  time  there  was  no  weakening  of  his 
mind  no  diminution  of  his  loving  interest  in  men. 
and  the  affairs  of  men.  It  was  a  failure  of  physical 
strength  simply.  When  he  left  the  work  finally  he  was 
eighty-three  years  old.  He  had  been  a  preacher  to 
that  church  since  1817,  when  he  began  to  lead  the 
meetings  in  the  pastor's  absence,  and  expound  the 
word  from  his  study  of  Scott's  Commentaries.  Thiswas 
a  period  of  fifty-nine  years. 

He  was  called  to  be  "half-pastor"  in  1825,  or  fifty- 
one  yearsbefore;  and  full  pastor  in  1827,  or  forty-nine 
years.     But    out  of  this  must  be  deducted  the   two 


g  Ltfe  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

v^ars  and  nine  months  when  he  was  absent.  The 
S  Ume  of  service  as  pastor  was  forty-eight  years,  m 
a  period  of  fifty-nine  years,  during  which  they  were 
familiar  with  his  voice  as  their  preacher. 

These  relations  ended,  but  the  sweeter  ties  go  on  unto 

eternity. 


The  Farewell, 


11 


;  absent.  The 
-eight  years,  in 
lich  they  were 

•  ties  go  on  unto 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE   FAREWELL. 


The  years  of  an  old  man  in  a  strange  and  busy 
western  town  are  uneventful.  It  is  at  best  a  waiting 
for  the  sands  of  life  to  run  out.  Some  one  has  beauti- 
fully compared  it  to  Elijah  waiting  at  the  brook  Che- 
rith,  in  the  famine.  Days  and  weeks  go  by  and  the  hot 
sun  sucks  up  the  water  in  hill  and  valley ;  the  fields  are 
parched ;  the  rills  cease  their  music.  Weeks  run  into 
months.  The  brook  gets  shallower  and  np  rower.  The 
stones  put  up  their  heads  and  seem  to  ask  for  rain. 
Then  only  the  little  pools  appear,  hidden  away  among 
the  stones.  All  this  time  Elijah  sits  in  the  shade,  daily 
the  ravens  bring  his  food.  He  knows  the  shrinking 
brook  will  soon  fail  him,  and  then  how  will  he  quench 
his  thirst  ?  Yet  we  do  not  doubt,  but  Elijah's  faith  was 
fully  equal  to  his  needs. 

So  an  old  man  feels  his  strength  wane,  sees  his  hand 
tremble,  grows  dull  of  hearing,  finds  a  mist  gathering 
over  the  face  of  all  things,  and  knows  that  these  are 
signs  of  the  coming  end. 

Father  Sabin,  if  he  ever  made  the  comparison, 
would  not  fail  to  think  of  the  day  when  Elijah  was 
taken  to  another  place,  and  became  a  dependant  no 
longer  on  brooks  and  ravens,  but  on  the  unfailing  cruse 
of  oil. 

He  waited  cheerfully.  He  was  able  to  read  to  the 
last  without  any  difficulty  or  weariness.  To  the  last 
he   remained  among  his  books.     In   1882   he  wrote : 


h 

'■'■i 

I 


I 


78 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


II 


An  old  man's  books  are  about  the  only  indication  to 
the  world  of  what  he  has  been.  They  are  the  centers 
of  associations  pleasant  to  recall." 

During  these  years  he  wrote  many  letters  to  a  la  ge 
circle  of  correspondents,  in  which  are  embodied  the 
memories  and  reflections  of  a  clear  mind,  and  a  heart 
that  had  not  a  trace  of  acid  in  its  feehngs. 

He  sometimes  had  visits  from  mmisters  of  the  vi- 
cinity, and  these  he  prized  very  highly.  He  said  he 
took  ;  new  lease  of  life  when  he  could  have  a  good 
ho^ugh  discussion  of  some  political  or  theological 
topic  His  faculties  and  memory  of  men  seemed 
scarcely  to  fail.     Dates   were  treacherous,    but  facts 

^^HisTnterest  in  national  politics  were  as  intense  as  if 
he  were  a  part  of  them.  He  attended  the  Convention 
fn  Chicago  which  nominated  Garfield,  and  went  to  the 
city  in  -84  to  attend  the  Convention,  but  was  not  able 

'°  lut  the  strongest  must  fail  as  last.  In  the  fall  of  '84 
he  was  in  feeble  condition.  His  once  straight  and 
vigorous  frame  was  bowed  and  trembling.  For  a  long 
lime  a  catarrhal  cough  had  prevented  his  lying  down  to 

sleep,  and  the  constant  half-sitting   posture  had  made 

his  shoulders  to  fall  forward. 

December  .2,  in  attempting  to  pick  "P   --^^^-S 

from  the  floor,   he  fell  and   broke  the   th-gh  bone^u 

outside  the  hip  joint.     The  surgeon  gave  it  the  most 

■"I^factsin  this  unpleasant  matter  have  been  so  misstated 
that^e  venture  to  state  them  here.  One  J.  Gregory  Smith,  of  St^ 
Albans  wITin  the  delegation  from  Vermont  and  to  h,m  Mr.  &xbm 
appS  thigh  Mr.  F.  B.  Wilkie,  of  Chicago,  for  a  ticicet  of  ad- 
mission, but  did  not  succeed  in  gettmg  one. 


y  indication  to 
are  the  centers 

jtters  to  a  large 
!  embodied  the 
d,  and  a  heart 
js. 

■iters  of  the  vi- 
ly.  He  said  he 
Id  have  a  good 
1  or  theological 
3f  men  seemed 
;rous,    but  facts 

e  as  intense  as  if 

i  the  Convention 

and  went  to  the 

but  was  not  able 

In  the  fall  of  '84 
nee  straight  and 
ng.  For  a  long 
his  lying  down  to 
posture  had  made 

ck  up   something 

J   thigh  bone  just 

gave  it  the  most 

ve  been  so  misstated 

Gregory  Smith,  of  St. 

;  and  to  him  Mr.  Sabin 

ro,  for  a  ticket  of  &d- 


Tlu  Famvcll. 


79 


careful  attention,  but  nature  could  not  heal  it.  After 
five  weeks,  during  which  he  lay  on  his  back,  the  sum- 
mons  came  and  he  was  free  from  earth.  With  the  bro- 
ken  leg  there  was  no  pain,  but  the  confinement  wearied 
him  out. 

He  settled  his  estate,  giving  notes  to  his  heirs,  and 
dividmg  his  books  with  judgment  and  clearness  among 
his  grandchildren.  His  mind  was  then  at  rest. 
"Now,"  said  he  "I  have  done  what  I  ought  to  have 
done  long  ago." 

One  said  to  him,  "I  am  glad  you  are  prepared  for 
this  journey."  "Oh, "  he  replied,  "It  is  the  least  of 
my  thoughts." 

Another  attempting  to  comfort  him  quoted  the 
words  of  the  Savior:  "What  I  do  thou  knowest  not 
now,  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter."  "Well,"  he 
replied,  "It  is  no  matter  whether  I  ever  know.  It  will 
be  right." 

We,  who  stood  by  him,  were  for  some  days  troubled 
at  his  silence  upon  the  subject  of  his  religious  feelings 
as  the.  day  drew  nearer.  So  deep  are  the  mysteries  of 
the  other  world,  and  so  human  is  our  faith,  that  we 
listen  to  every  word  from  those  who  go  down  to  death 
that  we  may  catch  some  expression  from  their  lips  as 
the  doors  of  eternity  open  to  their  eyes.  And  we 
watched  his  lips  to  hear.  But  one  day  he  spoke.  The 
message  had  come.  He  called  us  around  the  bed,  and 
told  of  his  hope.  "I  go,"  said  he,  "very  soon.  I 
shall  be  with  my  wife  and  children.  It  seems  hardly 
possible.  I  go  as  a  sinner,  but  I  have  a  good  hope  in 
Jesus." 

Then  folding   his  hands   as  if   in    prayer   he   said, 
"Farewell,  my  friends,  farewell  1 " 


gQ  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

After  a  few  words  of  exhortation  he  turned  to  pray- 
er and  plead  with  God  for  the  family,  that  they  m.ght 
have  an'nterest  in  the  atoning  blood  and  a  good  hope 

*"  FTm  this  time  he  was  unable  to  talk  much,  but  he 
often  clasped  his  hands  as  in  prayer,  and  h.s  hps  moved 
when  no  sound  came.  Our  prayers  that  he  nj.ght  be 
free  from  pain  were  most  graciously  answered  from  the 
first  He  said,  "l  feel  perfectly  well  from  n,y  throat 
down."    His  cough,  which  for  ^Vear  had  never  ceased 

atnight  to  trouble  ^^^^^  ^f ^^nd "his  f    edoi  f^om 
not  what  has  become  of  it.       And  tnis  ircc 
nain  continued  until  the  last,  except  occasional  cramps 
from  lying  in  one   position.     So   he  slept   restfuUy. 
When  awakened,  his  mind  was  clear. 

January  28,  quietly,  peacefully,  the  strong  doors 
opined  aL  he  lookelout.  A  sweet  peace  stole  over 
his  face.  Twenty  years  of  age  left  his  features.  Then 
God  said:  "Come  up  higher."  and  our  father,  pastor, 
friend  was  gone— but  not  forever. 


urned  to  pray- 
lat  they  might 
J  a  good  hope 

much,  but  he 
hialips  moved 
t  he  might  be 
ivered  from  the 
om  my  throat 
id  never  ceased 

said:  "I  know 
3  freedom  from 
:asional  cramps 
slept   restfuUy. 

e  strong  doors 
aeace  stole  over 
features.  Then 
;r  father,  pastor, 


Characteristics.  o* 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

All  faces  have  the  same  general  features,  yet  no  two 
look  alike.     Every  man  has  a  nose,  but  not  every  one 
has  the  large    well  formed  nose   of  the   Cromwcllian 
type.     The   distinction   between    faces  is   founded  on 
the  prominence  of  some  part.     So  in  character.     There 
are  certain  lines  of  thought  and  feeling  common  to  all 
ministers,  without  which  they  would  be  no  ministers 
or   at    least   only    deformities,   or    freaks    to    be    en- 
dured and  pitied.     But  that   which   makes    one  man 
worth  singling  out   from   the  rest ;   that  which  makes 
up  the  personal  equation,  is  the  prominence  of  certain 

Of  Alvah  Sabin  one  must  say  that  he  was  not  odd 
either  in  good  or  bad  sense.     Mark  Twain  has  written 
of  his  own  conscience  that  there  seemed  to  be  no  par- 
icular  thing  upon  which  you  could  put  your  finger  and 
say:     This  is  a  deformity;  yet  it  was  universally  a  little 
out  of  shape."     Reversing  his  very  apt   expression, 
we    may    say    that   there     was    no    one    trait    upon 
which  the  mind  can  put  its    finger    and   say   in  this 
he  greatly  excelled;  yet  there  was  a  certain   fullness 
and  balance  to  all  which  marked  him-  out  from  other 
men. 

One  said  at  his  funeral :    "God  never  chooses  a  small 

T^i^Z  \^''''*  ^''''^'     ""  "°"'^  d«  '"O'-e  with 
Alvah  Sabm,  because  he  was  of  good  timber.     There 

was  left  out  of  his  make-up  that  little  meanness  which 


g2  L':fe  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

is  in  many  men.     Ik  had  no  narrow  jealousies,  he  was 

^' A^Trt  r  ,l;rj;e''  .here  .  was    nothing 
na^ow  or  bigoted  about  him.     He  was  one  of  nature 
robieln.    He  took  such  broad,  --d  pract.a^^v.w. 
of  all   questions  that  his  opinions  and  counsel  were 
eniKTht  for  by  all  classes."t  ,,, 

"?He  was  a  person  of  generous  impulses,  ever  ready 
to  a^  the  poor  He  possessed  a  great  deal  of  sympathy 
to  aid  tne  poor.  v  inclined  to  pra  se  than 

for  all  '^'--'•^"'',  "^^„";,',;^:d,„vefo'aHChri 
^ans''   Hr*in7ea  in  alU.:r  "of  society.     Kven  in 

Xnced  a,e  yfung  peof^-te^-^^^-'  ^^^^ 
him   at  their  evenmg  visits.     He  naa  goou         m 
powers  and  was  fond  of  anecdote. 
^  .'I  was  not  a  constant   attendant    upon  his  preach 

— ti  rdisco^^e  t,.„..s  a^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

t^prdi  r%tuM  foUoTone  train  of  thought 
Ter  another  and  with  great  vigor  I  enpyed  such  full 
n  well  as  his  written  discourses.  I 

"hs  was  a  steady,  straight  forward  course  The 
religton  that  he  preached  to-day  was  good  for  to-rno.^ 
1^  the  sa^e  "- "aV^^^H-rX^f^Lred-hU 

::™:L7r  t  mo.  sTL^S.  ChnstUns  of  «.e 
preacning  ^^^^^  j  ^j^^y^  had 

ro:«den"^:l"n.eth^od''of  reasoning  his  hearts  .n^^ 
a  reform.     Were  I  to  advise  a  preacher,  I  would  say 

"Tr^j.  H.Woodward.  . 

t  Kev.  Mr.  Chase, 
t  Rev.  J.  G.  Lorimer. 


lousies,  he  was 

; ,  was    nothing 

one  of  nature's 

practical  views 

i  counsel  were 

Ises,  ever  ready 
eal  of  sympathy 
;d  to  praise  than 
Dve  for  all  Chris- 
.ciety.  Even  in 
t  a  treat  to  have 
1  good  coloquial 

apon  his  preach- 
ng  revival.  The 
ck  of  God.  He 
apropriate  to  the 
i^hen  called  upon 
train  of  thought 
enjoyed  such  full 

ard  course.     The 

good  for  to-mor- 

vays  urged  men  to 

who  followed  his 

Christians  of  the 

,ys.     I  always  had 

ig  his  hearers  into 

icher,  I  would  say 


1 


Characteristics. 


83 


preach  sound  doctrine  and  common  sense,  and  risk 
the  result.  If  any  want  more  'pressure,'  let  them 
get  an  engine  and  steam  up  until  they  burst,  and  that 
w.Il  end  fictitious  religion.  He  was  a  sound  thinker, 
and  treated  his  themes  in  a  very  lucid,  forcible  manner, 
liberal  ,n  allowing  others  to  hold  their  views,  as  freely 
as  he  held  his  own."*  ^ 

Another  said:     ''He    lived  here  in  Georgia  all  his 
lue  and  left  not  an  enemy,  "f 

"His  sermons  were  strong,   logical  presentations  of 
gospel  truth,  marked  by  dear  thought  rather  than  wide 
reading.     His  style  was  peculiar.     In  the  commence- 
ment  of  the   discourse   his  thought  seemed    to   move 
slow,  and  his  introduction  was  often  a  little  dry  ■  but  as 
he  progressed  it  became  more  rapid,  and  he  brought 
the  whole  strength  of  his  giant  mind  to  the  handling  of 
the  subject ;  and  went  through  his  discourse  in  a  stately 
manner,  touching  every  salient  point,  and  presenting  it 
m  so  new  and  vigorous  a  way,  that  every  hearer  gave 
undivided  attention.   He  borrowed  imagery  from  things 
most  familiar,  but  rarely  told  a  story,  or  related  any  in- 
cidents from  his  own  history.     For  strength  of  mind 
and  depth  of  intellect.  Alvah  Sabin  had  kvf  equals  "t ' 
"He  once  preached  a  series  of  sermons  in  a  neighbor- 
hood where  the  Universalists  had  many  followers,  and  at 
their  request.     He  began  with  the  character  of  God  and 
spoke  of  his  holiness  and  justice;  his  anger  at  sin-  the 
necessity  of  a  day  of  judgment;  of  the  character  of  men- 
their  sinful  condition  and  consequent  need  of  a  Savior-' 
God^love;  wisdom  in  the  plan  of  salvation;   his  com- 

•  Charles  Hobart,  in  a  letter  to  a  young  minister. 

T  Henry  Rankin. 

tKev.  L.  A.  Dunn,  D.  D. 


I 


t 


84 


Life  of  Rev.  Aivah  Sabin, 


passion  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  his  broad  invitation  to  the  sm 
ncrs  •  then  followed  one  on  the  hardness  of  heart  tha 
marked  those  who  refused  so   inuch  love  and  rejected 
the  Savior.      At  the  close  of  the  ser.cs  he  summed  up 
in  one  discourse  the  whole  matter  and  portrayed  the 
condition  of  one  who  was  still  unwilling  to  yield  to  so 
liood  a  Savior.     As  he  went  on  with   his   clean  cut, 
forceful  logic  and  m  the  earnestness  of  his  own  con- 
victions, one  after  another  of  the  audience  rose  up,  un- 
til they  were  all  standing  and   leaning  forward  as  »f  to 
catch  the  words  of  doom  that   seemed  about  to  fiill  on 
those  who  rejected  the  Son  cf  Man.     The  series  broke 
up  the  sentiment  of   Univen.alism  in  the  place,   and 
yet  made  >.>  enemies.     They  had  been  met  in  a  fair 
and  kind  spi,i£,  and  if  not  convinced,  were  silenced. 

From  these  opinions  it  will  be  seen  that  he  impressed 
men  with  the  honesty  of  his  convictions  and  the  sound- 
ness of  his  conclusions.  He  was  well  balanced  intel- 
lectually, and  emotionally.  Could  we  give  the  testi- 
mony of  the  people  of  his  town  concerning  the  kind 
ness  of  his  heart,  we  should  add  to  his  crown  what 
would  most  please  him. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  things  about  him  was  the 
lack  of  ambitions  in  any  direction,  except  to  be  a  good 
and  useful  man.  He  studied  to  repress  faults  m  his  life 
and  character  more  than  to  produce  excellencies.  He 
believed  that  the  grace  of  God  would  produce  good 
fruit  if  the  weeds  were  kept  down  so  that  it  had  a  fair 
chance      And  his  work  was  to  keep  them  down. 

He  was  a  good  answer  to  the  divine  requirement  for 
a  minister. 


*  Rev.  John  Kyle. 


//. 


tation  to  the  sin 
less  of  heart  tluil 
love  and  rejected 
-,  he  summed  up 
id  portrayed  the 
1^  to  yield  to  so 
th   his   clean  cut, 

of  his  own  con- 
encc  rose  up,  un- 
g  forward  as  if  to 
1  about  to  fall  on 

The  scries  broke 
n  the  place,  and 
een  met  in  a  fair 
,  were  silenced."* 
that  he  impressed 
)ns  and  the  sound- 
ell  balanced  intel- 
wc  give  the  testi- 
icerning  the  kind 
3  his  crown   what 

about  him  was  the 
xcept  to  be  a  good 
•ess  faults  in  his  life 

excellencies.  He 
3uld  produce  good 
o  that  it  had  a  fair 

them  down. 

ne  requirement  for 


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Characteristics. 


85 


"//I?  xvas  blameless  as  the  steward  of  God.'' 
Whether  this  be  applied  to  his  earthly  or  his  spiritual 
stewardship,  it  was  true.  The  worldly  minded  called 
him  generous  to  a  fault.  No  man  ever  called  on  him 
for  assistance  who  did  not  get  it  if  he  was  able  to  give 
it.  He  was  always  poorly  paid  by  the  church,  and  un- 
til he  was  sixty  years  old  did  not  know  what  it  was  to 
be  free  from  the  embarrassment  of  poverty.  Yet,  out 
of  his  poverty,  he  gave  with  a  generous  liberality.  In 
the  latter  part  of  his  life  his  public  services  were  better 
paid  for,  and  he  was  able  to  do  more  than  formerly. 
Even  then  his  willingness  was  greater  than  his  purse. 
A  young  man  in  whom  he  was  interested  needed 
money  to  help  him  in  school.  Mr.  Sabin  sent  him 
thirty  dollars,  and  said  in  the  letter  that  he  would  be 
glad  to  do  more  for  him,  "but  the  wishes  of  friends 
who  are  unable  to  carry  them  out  are  worth  as  much 
as  a  painted  sun  on. a  garden  fence  to  ripen  water-mel- 
ons," Out  of  his  public  services  he  paid  all  his  former 
debts,  and  when  his  farm  was  sold  he  had  left  a  small 
sum  for  the  easy  support  of  himself  and  wife  during 
their  life,  and  a  little  to  distribute  among  his  family  at 
death.  He  never  complained  at  the  meagerness  of  his 
salary,  but  used  to  say  that  the  people  of  Georgia  made 
up  his  salary  by  electing  him  to  the  places  which  did  pay. 
If  we  apply  the  stewardship  to  the  spiritual  side  of 
his  life  it  finds  an  equally  good  fulfillment.  We  can 
find  no  better  statement  of  his  idea  of  it  than  words 
from  one  of  his  sermons  upon  the  text :  '  'Give  account 
of  your  stewardship."  "We  have  remarked  that  a 
steward  must  be  true  to  the  interests  of  his  employer. 
We  must  be  loyal  to  God  ;  do  our  duty  because  God 
requires  it,  not  solely  because  the  civil  law  demands  it, 


t 

i 


A\ 


rt  * 


86  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

or  because  others  do  it,  or  to  avoid  the  speech  of  people; 
but  because  it  is  right  and  God  requires  it.     Again  we 
remark  that  a  steward  should  know  what  duty  is   and 
the  right  way   of  doing   it.     Some  excuse  themselves, 
because  they  acted  according  to  their  knowledge   when 
the  criminality  is  that  they  ought  to  have  known  better. 
They   should  have   been   teachable,   more    observing, 
more   reflecting;   they   should   have   read   more,  they 
should  have  heeded  the  counsel  of  friends  and  parents 
they  should  have  learned   wisdom   from  their  own  and 
others  experience.     We  should  acquaint  ourselves  with 
human  nature;  we  should  acquaint  ourselves  with  the 
particular  duties  of  our  business,  our  trade,  our  calling, 
our  profession,  so  that  we  may  do  well  what  is  expected 
of  us  in  our  position.     A  man  once  said  to  Billy  Gray, 
a  millionaire,  'I  knew  you  when  you  was  nothing  but  a 
drummer  boy.'     Gray  replied,    'Did  I  not  drum  well? 
It  is  everything  to  be  able  to  do  a  laudable  act  well. 
Tallyrand  speaks  of  blunders  being  worse  than  crimes 
Half  the  world  blunder  into  it,  blunder  through  it,  and 

blunder  out  of  it. 

"Every  minister  is  a  steward  to  whom  is  committed 
the  bread  and  water  of  everlasting  life.  He  is  to  dis- 
tribute the  word  aright,  and  give  to  to  each  his  portion 
in  due  season.  He  is  to  show  himself  a  workman  that 
needeth  not  to  be  ashamed. 

"Then  the  church  members  have  duties  in  their  asso- 
ciated capacity.  They  are  to  maintain  the  public  worship 
of  God,the  preaching  of  the  word. the  singing  of  the  sanc- 
tuary, the  ordiances  of  the  church,  and  the  discipline  of 
God's  house.  It  requires  time,  and  money,  and  thought 
to  sustain  all  these  interests  ;  but  like  all  other  true  and 
valuable  interests,  they  are  worth  maintaining." 


Characteristics. 


87 


eech  of  people; 
it.      Again  we 
it  duty  is,  and 
ase  themselves, 
lowledge,  when 
e  known  better, 
ore    observing, 
ead   more,  they 
ids  and  parents, 
n  their  own  and 
it  ourselves  with 
•selves  with  the 
ade,  our  calling, 
A'hat  is  expected 
id  to  Billy  Gray, 
as  nothing  but  a 
not  drum  well  ?  ' 
udable  act  well, 
orse  than  crimes, 
r  through  it,  and 

om  is  committed 
e.  He  is  to  dis- 
)  each  his  portion 
f  a  workman  that 

ities  in  their  asso- 
the  public  worship 
inging  of  the  sanc- 
d  the  discipline  of 
oney,  and  thought 
all  other  true  and 
intaining." 


Thus  we  see  that  he  had  a  broad  idea  of  his  duty  as 
a  steward  of  God.  And  this  idea  was  his  daily  guide. 
In  his  political  life  it  was  more  manifest,  because  he 
was  more  manifestly  accountable  to  some  one.  He 
never  spent  any  time  in  getting  himself  re-elected. 
There  was  not  a  whisper  that  he  was  seeking  to  enrich 
himself  either  honorably  or  otherwise  out  of  his  office. 
He  sought  no  popularity.  But  he  was  a  faithful  stew- 
ard and  servant  of  the  people  who  sent  him  as  their 
representative.  He  attended  to  the  private  claims  that 
had  any  place  in  his  department ;  he  made  the  appoint- 
ments in  good  faith,  and  voted  with  a  faithful  spirit. 

^*Hc  %vas  not  self -willed. " 

He  was  firm  in  his  purposes  and  opinions,  yet  in  his 
dealings  with  others,  he  did  not  forget  that  other  men 
had  strong  wills  as  dear  to  them  as  his  was  to  him.  He 
always  took  the  ground  that  a  man  who  had  an  opinion 
was  in  duty  bound  to  hold  it  until  he  was  convinced 
that  another  was  better.  If  he  could  not  be  convinced, 
then  he  ought  not  to  do  more  than  to  submit  to  a  ma- 
jority. There  were  times  in  the  half  century  of  his 
work  that  a  self-willed  man  would  have  run  against  a 
snag  in  that  church  or  any  other.  But  he  accounted 
that  they  had  as  much  interest  there  as  himself,  and  if 
he  could  not  make  his  way  appear  to  be  right,  it  was 
not  a  matter  of  vital  importance,  and  could  be  yielded 
without  loss  of  life  or  happiness. 

' '  Not  giveti  to  filthy  lucre. ' ' 

It  had  no  temptation  for  him.  Many  times  in  the 
early  part  of  his  life  he  could  have  gone  to  places  which 
would  have  been  more  lucrative,  but  he  did  not  con- 
sider them.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  times  to  get  a 
subscription  from  the   members  and  hand  it  to  him  to 


-I 


I  ^  ■^^&:^^rK>it|:*.r3-i:^ 


gg  Ufe  of  Rev.  Alvak  Sabm. 

collect.     The  payment  was  made  through  the  >.«  in 
^uchthlncs  as  were  needed  for  the  use  of  thi.  family. 
Tht      y   which  seems  so  strange  to  the  younger  mm- 
Ts,      wTs  not  after  all  so  bad  for  the  times.     It  was  co„^ 
":  :i;nt  for  him  and  them  to  have  the  P;P='  -  -^  ° 
credit  any  payments  that  were  made.     No  subscnpuon 
;7tws  soVeJer  wen.  beyond  the  f""  "    *- '™"    ad 
J  11       .,«f!l  iSfin      Yet  he  said  in   1867  that  ne  nau 
dollars  until  isoQ.      >cv  ii«^  subscr  P- 

never  up  to  that  time  dunned  a  man  for  his  subscnp 
Tn      Se  did  not  tell  all  the  truth  in  that  statement,  o 
h    woufd  have  added  that  some  of  the  subscribers  neve 
dunned  themselves.     After  the  manner  of  the  place 
the."  were  "donations"  and  these  --f/^-'r^'^^f^^^! 
IZ  value  to  him.     In  the  latter  half  of  his  hfe  the 
whole  town  contributed  to  them. 

Itmay  be  said  that  he  ought  to  have  been  mor  ca„^ 
ful  for  the  financial  interests  of  h,s  family.  H.s  wife 
wL:  ten  sorely  tried  by  the  scarcity  of  P'ovs.ons  and 
he  was  mortified  by  his    inability  to   pay  h,s  debts 

ToSenting  on*isfeature  heo  t^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

irbiri^rnfar^i-""----^^^^^^^ 

judgment  I  have  shown  in  the  management  of  my  ^em- 
Lral  affairs;  when  I  call  to  mind  some  of  the  busmess 
^      lpt:i  i  have  been  engaged  -.;"--<,»». 

"romptly.      These    embarrassments    have    tended    to 


i 


Characteristics. 


89 


jgh  the  year  in 
of  the  family, 
le  younger  min- 
es.    It  was  con- 
aper  on  hand  to 
No  subscription 
)f  three  hundred 
I67  that  he  had 
for  his  subscrip- 
lat  statement,  or 
mbscribers  never 
ler  of  the  place 
;re  sometimes  of 
alf  of  his  life  the 

;  been  more  care- 
family.  His  wife 
of  provisions,  and 
to   pay   his  debts 

;  wrote:     "When 
how  hap-hazard  it 
;  m.ade  ;   how  little 
ement  of  my  tem- 
tie  of  the  business 
in  connection  with 
;hem  to  success,  it 
my  private  room. 
■  my  life  supported 
and  have  given  my 
e  scarcely  thanked 
:h  I  could  not  pay 
;    have    tended    to 


weaken  my  independenc*e  of  judgment,  and  compelled 
me  to  ask  favors  which  humiliated  me. 

It  was  not  often  that  he  allowed  himself  to  speak 
thus.  His  usual  feeling  was  one  of  gratefulness  to  the 
people,  and  of  joy  that  he  had  been  permitted  to  do 
something  to  help  his  fellow-men.  From  all  wordly- 
wise  standpoints,  this  judgment  on  his  disregard  for 
the  money  side  of  the  pastoral  office  was  a  just  one. 
There  is  no  reason  why  the  faithful  pastor  should  be 
subjected  to  the  embarrassments  of  debt  or  poverty,  un- 
less the  people  to  whom  the  ministers  are  in  like  cir- 
cumstances. And,  if  the  poverty  is  due  to  a  generos- 
ity which  can  not  keep  what  has  been  paid  to  him,  then 
a  man  may  justly  condemn  his  own  management ;  and 
younger  men  may  take  warning  without  going  to  the 
other  extreme  of  loving  money  more  than  their  fellow- 
men. 

"//I?  %vas  a  lover  of  hospitality.'' 

All  ministers  of  New  England  had  the  practice  of  it, 
but  to  some  it  was  like  the  service  of  the  temple  to 
the  Jews  in  the  time  of  Malachi :  "Behold  what  a 
weariness  is  it,"  Not  so  to  him.  The  day  was  the 
brighter  if  it  gave  rest  and  food  to  some  wayfaring 
man. 

He  was  a  lover  of  good  men,  sober,  just,  holy,  temper- 
ate; holding  fast  tlie  faithful  tvord  as  he  had  been  taught, 
that  he  may  be  able,  by  sound  doctrine,  both  to  exhort  and 
convince  the  gainsayers. 

In  respect  to  the  general  idea  of  the  gospel  work  he 
wrote :  "I  have  been  in  doubt  whether  my  views  of 
evangelical  doctrine  were  in  harmony  with  those  of  my 
brethren  or  not.  I  have  years  ago  written  articles  for 
ministerial  meetings  that  led  men  who  were   not  ac- 


;f 


•I 


■  ■wtWWiA''^-  3  ^ijg/iiT  n"^;^  yi  ^ 


go  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

quainted  with  me  to  say.  'You  are  opposed  to  revivals 
?say  to  them,  No;  but  I  wish  to  teach  that  Chnst.ans 
should  have  so  uniform  and  unremitting  a  performance 
of  duty  that  it  will  remove  the  necessity  of  revivals. 
I   hold  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  Christian   to   so 
Uve  that  he  will  not  decline,  and  need  a  revival  to  bring 
him  to  his  duty.     I  believe  that  one  great  object  of   a 
stated  ministry  is  to  instruct  men,  and  persuade  them 
by  sound  reasoning   to  stand  fast  in  the  faith  ;  to  act  ac- 
cording to  their  convictions;  to  maintain  a  symmetrical 
character.     I  think  that  this  ought  to  be  Pleached  as 
practical,  revival  or  no  revival.     I  would  preach  to  the 
unconverted  that  it  is  their  duty  to  be  Christians,  and 
to  do  Christian  duty  as  much  as  if  they  were  profess- 
ors of  religion.     The  fact  that  they  are  unwilling  to  do 
duty  does  not  excuse  them  from  doing  it.     The  duty 
is  imposed  because  it  is   right,  and  necessary.     Any 
aversion  to  it  shows  a  dislike  to  what  is  right. 

«'I  hear  from  many  preachers  the  declaration  made 
to  the  unconverted  :    '  You  are  totally  helpless.     You 
can  do  nothing  that  will  be  acceptable  to  God.     You 
can  never  be  a  Christian  till  the  Holy  Spirit  converts 
vou  •     These  declarations,  unexplained,   may  be  con- 
strued into  a  reasonable  excuse  for  the  omission  of  duty 
It  seems  to  be  implied  that  until  God  has  done  his  part 
the  sinner  can  not  do  his.     But  the  sinner  can  not 
throw  his  responsibility  upon  God,  and  Pl^^^  his  ina- 
bility to  do  what  is  right  and  proper.    The  Edwards 
'      definition    of   free    will    is  the  right  one.     What  we 
have  not  the  physical  ability  to  do,  we  are  excused 
from  doing;   but  moral  inability  is  the  want  of   dis- 
position to  do  what  is  right  and  that  constitutes  our 
criminality. 


Characteristics. 


9« 


sed  to  revivals, 
that  Christians 
r  a  performance 
iity  of  reviviils. 
Christian   to   so 

revival  to  bring 
eat  object  of   a 

persuade  them 
:  faith  ;  to  act  ac- 
in  a  symmetrical 

be  preached  as 
Id  preach  to  the 
;  Christians,  and 
sy  were  profess- 
j  unwilling  to  do 
g  it.  The  duty 
necessary.  Any 
is  right. 

declaration  made 
Y  helpless.     You 
le  to  God.     You 
y  Spirit  converts 
led,   may  be  con- 
;  omission  of  duty, 
has  done  his  part, 
le  sinner  can  not 
md  plead  his  ina- 
er.    The  Edwards 
t  one.     What  we 
),  we  are  excused 

the  want  of   dis- 
lat  constitutes  our 


"Now  that  there  have  been  revivals  is  not  to  be 
doubted.  That  they  have  done  much  good  is  not 
to  be  doubted.  That  a  percentage  of  them  has  proved 
to  be  spurious  is  not  to  be  doubted.  An  evangelist 
may  be  a  good  and  instructive  preacher  who  will 
bring  the  people  together.  He  may  concentrate  his 
discourses  upon  themes  that  will  bestir  the  minds 
of  his  hearers  to  see  their  situation  as  one  of  neglect 
of  duty  and  rejection  of  Jesus,  and  of  doing  despite 
to  the  monitions  of  conscience  and  the  Holy  Spirit. 
He  may  impress  the  necessity  of  coming  to  a  de- 
cision at  this  time  ;  and  point  out  the  hazard  of  de- 
laying it  until  the  hereafter.  Then,  as  we  are  all 
sympathetic  beings,  our  minds  are  moved  as  the  minds 
of  others  are  moved.  Stupor  and  inattention  are  awak- 
ened by  the  interest  of  those  around  us.  Then  the 
reanimation  of  those  who  have  been  sustaining  the 
cause  for  years,  expressing  their  joys,  confessing  their 
faults,  exhorting  the  awakened,  and  assuring  them  that 
their  strength  shall  be  equal  to  their  day — a  combina- 
tion of  all  these  influences  may  arouse  the  dormant 
minds  of  hundreds  in  a  community  in  a  short  time. 
But  this  work  is  greatlj'  advanced  by  the  sound,  steady, 
uniform  preaching  that  precedes  it.  Ignorant  persons 
may  be  moved,  but  their  faith  will  be  imbecile.  Those 
who  are  weak  in  t"he  faith  are  to  be  received,  but  they 
are  to  be  taught  the  way  of  the  Lord  more  perfectly. 
A  disciple  is  a  learner ;  the  church  is  a  school ;  the 
minister  is,  under  Jesus,  the  teacher. " 

"Endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus. " 
This  was  one  of  the  positive  rules  under  which  he 
placed  himself.    No  other  would  have  held  him  so  long 
without  the  attempt  at  least  to  change  the  ills  he  had, 


•If 


m 


m 


„2  Life  of  Rn>.  Alvah  Sabin. 

and  fly  to  others  he  knew  not  of.     When  he  was  sad 
and  discourat'ed.  he  consoled  himself  with  th.-  thought 
that  the  Lord  rei^jns  over  his  church,  and  will  not  suffer 
it  to  be  permanently  confounded.     When  men   were 
slow  to  move  as  he  thought  they  ought  to,  he  remem- 
bered how  slow  he  had  been  to  move  to  his  duty.     He 
said-  "The  minister  has  his  dark  hours,  and  doubts  as  to 
his  fatness  for  the  work.     When  the  minds  of  Christians 
are  in  a  low  state,  he  feels  that  if  he  were  what  he  ought 
to  be  it  would  not  be  so.     But  these  feelings  are  com- 
mon to  all  preachers  at  certain  times.     If   the  churches 
call  us  to  preach    for  them,  and  the  people  are  edi- 
fied by  our  preaching,  we  may  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  we   are  in  our  place.     If  all  who  are  at  times   dis- 
couraged should  quit  preaching,  there  would  soon  be  no 
preachers.       'Be  not  weary  in  well  doing  for  in  due 
time  ye  shall  reap  if  ye  faint  not."  " 

In  a  letter  to  ,1  young  minister  who  was  just  ordained, 

he  wrote : 

Georgia  Plain,  July  13,  1875. 

r)„.R .  ._I  received  your  last  with  satisfaction. 

Your  brief  articles  of  belief  I  think  were  well  ex- 
nressed  They  covered  the  whole  ground  ;  they  brought 
out  the  proper  heads,  and  expressed  them  in  language 
free  from  cant  phrases  and  technical  objections.  It  was 
a  short  way  of  getting  over  what  is  sometimesa  tedious 
process,  and  saves  an  hundred  questions.  The  paper 
a  is  worth  preserving.  It  might  be  a  good  code 
ot   articles  of    faith  to   be  adopted  at  the  organization 

°S^exoected  you  would  come  off  respectably  at  your 
examination.   But  now  will  come  the  "-"bber^  to  preach 
preach,    preach,    week   after   week    and    month    after 
month  -and  sustain  the  congregation      You  will  have 
your  patience  tried  with  the  freaks  and  notions  of  the 


en  he  was  sad 
ith  th'.'  thou[,'ht 
J  will  not  suffer 
hen  men   were 
;  to,  he  remem- 
»  his  duty.     He 
and  doubts  as  to 
ids  of  Christians 
re  what  he  ought 
clings  are  com- 
If   the  churches 
people  are  edi- 
)  the  conclusion 
are  at  times   dis- 
vould  soon  be  no 
loing  for  in  due 

v&s  just  ordained, 

July  13,  J875- 
;  with  satisfaction, 
ik  were  well  ex- 
ind ;  they  brought 
them  in  language 
bjections.  It  was 
itietimes  a  tedious 
ions.  The  paper 
be  a  good  code 
t  the  organization 

;spectably  at  your 
rubber,  to  preach, 
and  month  after 
n.  You  will  have 
nd  notions  of  the 


1 


C/iaractiristifs, 


93 


old  and  young  ;  but  you  know  that  this  is  to  be  borne, 
be  you  where  you  may.  Hut  never  show  temper  to 
any  one  ;  never  make  tart  replies  to  any  one  ;  treat 
every  one's  opinion  with  respect  ;  and  know  that  the 
opinion  of  some  plain  man,  the  suggestions  of  some 
motherly  matron,  may  be  the  safest  counsel  to  follow. 
Do  not  make  up  your  mind  to  remove  because  of  some 
difficulties,  for  they  are  found  everywhere.  The  most 
that  we  can  expect  is  to  swap  troubles — and  we  may 
find  the  boot  on  the  wrong  leg. 

In  order  to  gain  an  established  reputation,  we  must 
be  able  to  sustain  ourselves  for  some  time  in  one  place. 
A  continued  ministry  among  one  people  tends  to  enlarge 
one's  mind,  and  to  turn  the  wheel  out  of  the  rut  into 
which  itinerant  preachers  are  so  apt  to  fall.  Very  much 
depends  on  the  cultivation  of  our  preaching  talent, 
but  we  xnunX  also  cultivate  the  pastoral  gift.  A  minister 
.should  be  A  ready  man  on  every  subject  that  is  dis- 
cussed by  the  public  mind.  The  Society  should  have 
the  right  to  feel  that  their  minister  is  every  whit  a  whole 
man,  and  one  they  have  no  occasion  to  be  ashamed  of 
anywhere.  He  should  have  no  spots  nor  wrinkles,  nor 
any  such  thing  in  his  character.  His  house,  his  car- 
riage, his  dress  should  show  that  he  is  a  man  of  good 
taste.  "Trifles  make  perfection,  but  perfection  is  no 
trifle." 

You  have  my  most  sincere  and  earnest  and  honest 
prayer  that  you  may  succeed.  And  I  have  a  good  de- 
gree of  confidence  that  you  will.  A.  Sabin. 

At  another  time  he  wrote  :  "  A  minister,  by  remain- 
ing in  one  place,  acquires  an  influence  as  a  citizen  and 
is  esteemed  as  such.  *  *  He  should  so  hold  him- 
self that  he  may  have  the  confidence  of  both  sides  in 
any  controversy  which  may  arise  in  church  or  society. 
Still  all  questions  must  be  decided  justly.  But  with  all 
the  wisdom  and  discretion  we  can  use,  w°  shall  find  those 
who  can  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  submit  to  the  best 


r 

mi 


Life  "/  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


common  sense  rules  that  can  be  devised.  This  wc 
"  Thr^::;\hat  he  Wnew  the  duties  of  a  soldier  and 
did  not  flinch  from  them  because  they  were  sometmus 

'IfThere  was  any  place  where  he  was  -rUedly  d. 
fie  nt  it  was  on  tie  pastoral  side.  It  is  not  hkely  that 
he  ever  visited  his  church  systematically.  He  never  ob^ 
tained  the  appointment  of  acommitee  to  do  any  chu  ch 
work  or  had'any  of  the  modern  inventions  for  look  n, 
Tfter  strangers.     But  this  is  due  to  somethmg  else  than 

^i;;::;::^ri:^:::::;^abiy  never  m 

n^embers.     The  meeting  house  was  m  ^  -"ntrLlrm- 
only  from  three  to  five  houses  near  .t.  ^"^^  ^»^  ^^  fj^^^^ 

HoLs.     The  P-^^^^^^^^^^  ronTorthe 

;:;irre;ing:.'r<.s^t::;'^  havmg  ceased  to  be  in 

°7he  pews  were  never  rented,  but  free  to  all  comers. 
If  a  Strang  r  should  come,  every  one  would  know  h.m 
I  be  a"  tranger.  and  the  hospitable  ways  of  the  Green 
SouJ:a:nState'do  not  wait  to  hear  ^ow  much  bank 
stock  a  man  owns,  nor  what  sort  of  a  house  his  fathe 
ites  in,  before   giving  him  a  hand  and  saymg^        I 
don't  remember  your  name  ?    Be  you  hvmg  down  by 
the  sawmill  ?     Working  for  anybody  down  there      Go- 
ing Ssray  ?     Well,  that's  good.     Now  we  have  lots  of 
room.     Just  make  yourself  at  home. 

rr^irir  U  U  .he  habU  or  .he  p.ce  .o 
be  civil  to  everybody.     If  any  one  doubts  .t,  let  h.m 


n. 

vised.     This  wc 

of  a  soldier,  and 
were  sometimes 

as  markedly  dc- 
;  is  not  likely  that 
y.  He  never  ob- 
to  do  any  church 
mtions  for  looking 
mething  else  than 

ircr  more  than  200 
1  a  country  place, 
t,  and  these  farm- 
d  by  his  influence 
now  in  one  of  the 
r  ceased  to  be  in 

free  to  all  comers, 
e  would  know  him 
ways  of  the  Green 
r  how  much  bank 
a  house  his  father 
I  and  saying:  "I 
ou  living  down  by 
/  down  there  ?  Go- 
low  we  have  lots  of 

on  strangers  there, 
most  strange  thing 
labit  of  the  place  to 
:  doubts  it,  let  him 


■^ 


Characteristics. 


95 


ride  from  Burlington  to  St.  Alban's  Hay  along  the  lake 
road.  Kvery  man  he  meets  will  salute  him — unless  it 
should  be  another  city  fellow  out  on  the  same  errand. 

Had  he  been  in  a  church  where  it  was  needed,  he 
would  have  adapted  himself  to  the  field  doubtless;  as  it 
was,  every  one  in  the  town  knew  him,  and  knew  that  he 
was  glad  to  see  them. 

Yet  there  was  a  deficiency  in  the  matter  of  personal 
conversation  with  the  members  of  his  congregation,  and 
in  urging  them  to  public  profession  of  their  faith.  The 
town  has  .scores  of  families  who  have  been  brought  up 
under  his  preaching,  and  have  a  hope  in  the  Savior,  but 
have  never  made  any  further  profession  of  it  than  their 
love  for  Alvah  Sabin,  and  their  attendance  at  church. 

They  are  honorable,  kind,  respectful  to  the  word  of 
God,  keepers  of  the  Sabbath,  and  doubtless  maintain 
secret  prayer ;  but  they  never  frankly  avow  their  faith 
in  Jesus.  As  a  result,  they  are  not  as  influential  as 
they  might  be,  and  their  hope  is  not  as  certain  as  it 
might  be.  In  private  conversation  they  confess  their 
hope ;  but,  never  having  by  public  confession  united 
with  Christ's  people,  they  are  not  so  positive  in  their 
own  minds  as  they  would  be  if  they  fulfilled  the  com- 
mand to  be  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
Had  he  by  private  conversation  pressed  home  this  duty 
as  he  could,  it  would  have  added  to  the  strength  of  the 
church  and  the  joyfulness  of  those  who  were  thus  led 
to  fuller  duty. 

We  should  shrink  from  writing  this  censure  on  him, 
did  we  not  know  that  Le  was  in  some  measure  con- 
scious of  it.     In  the  spring  of   1876  he  wrote: 

'♦You  allude  to  one  fact  in  my  ministry  which  I  have 
been  conscious  of  many  years  ;  that  of  not  visiting  the 


i^it 


h 


r 


g  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

families  of  the  church  and  congregation.  In  tlie  first 
plT  never  had  much  talent  that  way.  I  always  dreaded 
r  Then  I  never  believed  in  its  utility  as  much  as  so.  e 
do  The  way  the  time  is  generally  spent  is  a  mere  waste 
'1  a^d  i'one  were  to  spend  half  his  t.me  n.  th,s 
way.  it  would  not  satisfy  one-half  the  people. 

•Then  there  has  been  one-third  of  the  t.me  hat  I 
have  had  no  promise  from  any  one  that  they  would  pay 
me  a  d^lar.  I  have  had  a  great  family  to  suppor  and 
had  to  look  after  the  cultivation  of  a  farm  to  supply  my 
yearly  wants.  While  schooling  my  children,  I  had  to 
hire  money  at  high  rates  and  sometimes  was  m  great 

straits  and  did  -^\)l^-^ZftZ7ZTZ\.^.X.  busi- 

'  'Then  some  ol  the  time  1  nave  oeen  y 
ness  and  .hat  has  occupied  my  time.  Si-e  •  c-e  back 
in  i86q  I  have  been  as  free  from  care  as  1  could  ask  to 
be  but  I  have  had  no  horse,  and  tl>e  neigl,bor  who  l,as 
o^;  has  use  for  it,  and  I  had  as  lief  be  whipped  as  to 
isk  for  one  when  he  wants  it. 

.And  now  I  am  so  infirm  I  can  not  walk  more  than  a 
mile  or  so.     This  is  my  apology  for  my  neglect,  yet  it 
^  by  no  means  satisfactory.     I   look  back  on  my  long 
minLry  with  much  mortification,  and  I  often  with  t  ar 
Sess  to  God  my  short-comings  in  duty,  and  pray  that 
I  m  V  share  the  grace  that  is  bestowed  on  the  chief  of 
Li^rs:  I  hope  L  you  may  be  able  ^^^-^^^^^^^^ 
with  a  more  single  eye  to  your  ministry  than  I  have 
Ter  been  able  to,  and  if  possible  keep  yourself  free 
from  debt.  We  had  better  be  parsimonious  than  to  be  n 
debT,  and  we  had  better  be  sharp  and  exacting  wihou 
brethren  than  to  owe  bills  we  can  not  pay.    ^f^^^^^ 
who  can  not  pay  his  debts  will  always  be  called  dishon- 
est  by  his  creditors. " 


'bin. 

ion.  In  tlie  first 
r.  I  always  dreaded 
y  as  much  as  soi.ie 
>nt  is  a  mere  waste 
ilf  his  time  in  this 
e  people. 

3f  the  time  that  I 

hat  they  would  pay 

lily  to  support  and 

farm  to  supply  my 

children,  I  had  to 
times  was  in  great 
to  turn, 
een  in  public  busi- 

Since  I  came  back 
•e  as  I  could  ask  to 
le  neighbor  who  has 
ef  be  whipped  as  to 

lot  walk  more  than  a 
r  my  neglect,  yet  it 
)k  back  on  my  long 
nd  I  often  with  tears 

1  duty,  and  pray  that 
owed  on  the  chief  of 
»le  to  devote  yourself 
linistry  than  I  have 

2  keep  yourself  free 
monious  than  to  be  in 
nd  exacting  with  our 
lot  pay.  A  preacher 
rays  be  called  dishon- 


Characteristics. 


97 


Such  is  his  own  lament.  It  can  not  be  made  to  speak 
plainer  by  any  additional  words.  To  those  that  knew 
him  well  even  this  blemish  was  like  a  spot  on  the  sun. 
So  much  real  tenderness  and  friendship  for  all  the 
towns-people  needed  not  a  formal  expression.  It  is  the 
critical  eye  alone  that  sees  our  faults.  Let  only 
those  who  have  the  excellencies  that  hide  the  deficiency 
venture  to  do  without  the  pastoral  element. 


% 


98 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

POLITICAL    RECORD. 

IN  early  life  he  was  interested  in  the  affairs  of  the 
state  and  Ihe  Nation.     This  led  him  to  volunteer  m  the 
war  of  1812-14.     He  had  also  a  natural  hk.ng  fo     the 
Trum       The  place  of  debate  was  a  place  of  dehght. 
B^t  his  first  election  to  any  office  was  in  the  year  1826. 
At  th"s  time  there  was  not  any  special  prmciple  m  .  - 
fue      After  the  war  of  1812  there  came  over  the  whole 
country  a  great  calm.     The  administration  of  President 
Mon  oe  was  without  incident.     Elections  were   made 
on  "rounds  of  personal  preference  among  candidate  . 
The%erm  of  Hon.  Horatio  Seymour,  senator  from  Vt. 
Lpied  in  1826  and  Ex-governor  Van   Ness  was  a  can- 
d^I  e  against  him  in  re-election.     There  was   to  be  a 
close  bait,  and  the  friends  of  Van  Ness  in   Georgia, 
knowing  the  personal  friendship  of  Mr   Sabin  or  hin^^ 
took  th!  liberty  of  nominating  and  electing  the  latter  to 
the  leg  slature  without  any  consultation,  or  even  knowl- 
edge on  his  part  of  their  intentions.     But  his  political 
bia!  was   with  Mr.  Seymour,  and  when  the    election 
clr^e  he  voted  for  him.  much  to  the  disgust  of  the  men 
who  had  elected  him.     The  next  year  he  was  left  out 
But  'hat  year  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  movemen 
whch  lasted  several  years  and  gave  scope  to  his  mind 
Tnd  hea't     The  murder  of  William  Morgan  by  a  smal 
b^nd  of  Masons  for  his  attempt  to  divulge  the  secrets  of 
the  Order  was  a  thing  in  itself  not  likely  to  make  any 
w"de    pead  agitation,  if  the  murderers  were  found  and 


A' 


Political  Record. 


99 


the  affairs  of  the 

0  volunteer  in  the 
al  liking  for   the 

place  of  delight. 

in  the  year  1826. 

al  principle  in  is- 
ne  over  the  whole 
•ation  of  President 
:tions  were  made 
imong  candidates. 

senator  from  Vt. 
n  Ness  was  a  can- 
rhere  was   to  be  a 

Ness  in   Georgia, 
Mr.  Sabin  for  him, 
lectins  the  latter  to 
ion,  or  even  knowl- 
1.     But  his  political 
when  the    election 

disgust  of  the  men 
ear  he  was  left  out. 
of  a  new  movement 
2  scope  to  his  mind 

1  Morgan  by  a  small 
iivulge  the  secrets  of 

likely  to  make  any 
;rers  were  found  and 


punished.     But,  as  the  investigation  went  on,   it  was 
believed  that  almost  the  whole  body  of  Masons  was 
determined  to  prevent  the  arrest  and  punishment  of  the 
parties.     In  the  state  of  New  York,  where  the  murder 
was  committed,  many  arrests  were  made  of  those  who 
were  concerned  in  the  crime.     But  it  was  found  that' 
courts  and  juries  were  almost  powerless  to  do  any  thing 
like  justice.     So  great  was  the  indifference  to  the  law 
of  the  land  that  a  special  Committee  of  which  Mr.  Thur- 
low  Weed  was  the  chairman  was  appointed  to  inquire 
into  the  matter  and  also  to  prosecute  the  cases.     There 
were  eight  persons  convicted  of  being  helpers  in  the  ab 
duction,  and  these  were  sentenced  to  short  terms  in  the 
penitentiary.     The  report  of  the  committee   contained 
these  words  :     "There  seems  to  have  been  a  determina- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  fraternity  not  only  to  suppress 
all  information  in  regard  to  the  outrages  but  to  repress 
all    inquiries  with  regard  to  it.     Individuals  who  ven- 
tured to  make  remarks  which  such  an  infraction  of  the 
law  was  calculated  to  elicit  were   made  the  subjects  of 
unreasonable   abuse    and   vindictive    hostility  by    the 
lodge-going  members  of  the  fraternity. 

"The  public  press,  which  has  in  almost  every  other  ' 
instance  of  great  crimes  been  made  the  means  of  inves- 
tigation, or  at  least  of  making  public  the  details  of 
crime,  was  in  this  instance  (with  a  single  exception  at 
first)  awed  into  the  most  slavish  silence  by  the  influence 
of  Free-Masonry.  Public  officers  who  acknowledged  the 
value  of  the  masonic  obligation  have  been  found  want- 
ing in  their  duty  as  officers  in  relation  to  prosecutions 
connected  with  this  outrage.  With  one  exception  no 
assistance  has  been  given  during  the  whole  course  of 
the   investigation  by  any  adhering  member  of  the  Ma- 


f 


pew: 

V 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


100 

•    r    ..rnitv      On  the  contrary,  individual  Masons 
son.c  fraternity.     Un  tn  /  interposed 

not  directly  imphcated  »"J^;  ^"^^J^^  the  discovery 
T7  f  r%':rtVarbU:«opened.  exer- 

enable  offenders  to  elude  J-^'^'^^tinesse     Though 

1  ^r.A  rnncealment  of  important  witnesset..  u      b 
,noval  and  ^^"^^^'"^  "  convicted  by  juries,  and 

several   persons  have    oeen 

ffU^m  have  even  confessed  thejr  guut,  yci 
some  of  them  J^^^^^^""  .objected  to  a  masonic 

asingleoneofthem^h^^^^^^^^^^  have  had  the 

r:rnanc?and  support^f  the  Order,  and  have  re- 
ceived  its  sympathy  -"^  Patronage.  ^^^^^ 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  ^^e  writer  to  e.n  . 

or  excuse  the  --"^^-^^"^'7;^^  L   o  show  what 
of  this  report  was  the  ^.^uth.     It  is  gtven  ^^^^ 

^-^--nr^w£^"t:-a::::^;:^u 

becatne  still  more  bitter,     ^^^''"j^  .^^   its  methods 
vate  discussion,  or  even  ^hu-h  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^^  l^,,  it.self 
were  at  least  honorable  ;  ^^t  ^^^"^^^^^^^    .,  J,^  nke  the 

'^'  r^  VT^IZ^    bttte  English  in  the  war 
employmen    ^^  ^^.^J^^^^^^^^  but 

of  the  Revolu  .on     hey  were     J^^^  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^ 

they  could  not  be  cal  eo  aw  y  ^^.^^^ 

calumny,  and  of  bitter  P"^""^'  »""^^j  ,„  fi„d  o,t  the 
The  men  »h°  «'\="''"  ^^f^Tnly    were  accused 


lividual  Masons 
ave  interposed 
\t  the  discovery 
[y  opened,  exer- 
t  convictions,  to 
to  aid  in  the  re- 
itnesses.  Though 
1  by  juries,   and 
;ir  guilt,  yet  not 
ted  to  a  masonic 
:m  have  had  the 
er,  and  have  re- 

3  either  condemn 
to  say  how  much 
ven  to  show  what 
:ount  for  the  earn- 
pposed  the  Order. 
I  arena  the  battle 
as  a  matter  of  pri- 
pline,  its  methods 
took  upon  its-self 
ns,  it  was  like  the 
English  in  the  war 
set  to  fighting,  but 
he  fierceness  of  the 
calps  of  the  whites. 
:  the  Indians.   With 
ig  the    war  club  of 

ick. 

)Osed  to  find  out  the 
only,  were  accused 
em  Morgans  just  for 


Political  Record. 


lOI 


the  sake  of  political  effect  And  on  the  other  hand  the 
whole  Masonic  fraternity  was  branded  as  a  body  of 
murderers,  or  a  band  of  conspirators  against  the  law  of 
the  land.  But  then  as  now  the  voice  of  the  political 
paper  was  no  more  the  voice  of  the  sober  minded 
people,  than  the  theological  discussions  of  a  country 
tavern  represent  the  teachings  of  the  churches. 

Yet,  making  all  allowance  for  this  exaggeration  and 
unjust  imputation,  there  was  good  cause  for  the  public 
to  turn  attention  to  the  matter.  William  Morgan  was 
kidnapped,  and  was  not  found  alive.  His  body  was 
afterwards  thrown  up  by  the  waters  and  identified  by 
by  his  wife.  While  no  one  at  this  day  thinks  that  the 
Masonic  fraternity  as  a  whole  or  in  any  large  part  were 
the  murderers,  yet  it  is  evident  that  there  was  needed, 
for  the  welfare  of  the  fraternity  itself,  a  check  upon 
those  members  who  had  the  disposition  to  carry  the 
authority  of  a  secret  organization  so  far  as  to  prevent 
the  fullest  liberty  of  speech  to  its  members,  without 
danger  to  life  or  liberty. 

Unless  there  should  be  found  some  morally  criminal 
conspiracy,  a  healthy  public  sentiment  will  always  de* 
spise  the  man  who  reveals  the  secrets  of  an  organization 
into  which  he  has  voluntarily  entered.  He  is  at  liberty 
to  oppose  and  condemn  the  society  if  he  thinks  best, 
and  more  than  that  he  cannot  do  without  losing  the  re- 
spect of  good  men.  Yet  if  he  does  more,  no  set  of 
men  have  right  to  lay  violent  hands  on  him. 

And  when  we  see  how  the  committees  of  investiga- 
tion reported  that  the  officers  of  justice  were  so  often 
members  of  the  Order,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that 
the  movement  took  a  political  direction.  And  we  do 
not  find  any  reason  for  censuring  a  minister  of  the  gos- 


f 


B 


102  ^'/^  ^/  ^^-  "^'^"^^^  •'^'^^"'" 

pel  who  threw  his  strength  into  the  cause     In  the  state 
'o    New  York  committees  from   the  le«|slature  mv^st. 
gated  the  matter  and  reported  several  t'-s.     In  V  r 
Lnt  the  Anti-masonic  party  was  formed  m    829  and  for 
several  years  maintained    the    conflict.     In  October 
838   when  the  legislature  came  together  it  was  found 
that  there  had  been  no   selection   for  gov-nor      The 
Masonic  candidate.  S.  C.  Crafts,  had  received^      -4  ^ 
votes-  W.  A.  Palmer,  the  Ant.-masomc  cand  date  had 
To,l2S  votes;  while  the  Administration  candidate  had 

''  This  state  of  things  threw  the  selection  of  Gov-nor 
into  the  Assembly,  where  after   32  ballots  the  Mason 
candidate  v-as  chosen   by   a   small  majority      In  1831 
there  was  no  choice  by  the  vote  of  the  people,  but  the 
mere  was  -  Palmer   was  chosen 

Anti-masonic  candidate.    W.   A.    1  aimer   v 
in  the  legislature  by  a  majority  oi  one      In  '832t  ere 
was  again  no  choice  by  the  people  and  after  43  ballots 
The  Inti-n^asons  were  able  to  choose  the  Governor.    In 
833   the  Anti  masons  elected  their  candidate  by  a  ma- 
orty  of  3.117.     In    1834.  Mr.  Seymour,  a   hird   can^ 
SI  of    hose  who  were  tired  of  the  masonic  war  had 
uptrds  of  ro.ooo  votes  which  threw  the  election  into 
the  assembly  and  the  Anti-masons  were  successful.       n 
i8,rthet  was  again  no  election  and  in  the  assembly 
iocho'e  could  be  made,  and  the  Lieutenant  governor 
Mr    TenTson  acted  as  governor.    But  he  with  the  Treas- 
fr  r  were    both  Anfi-masonic    candidates    and    were 
electeroy  large  majorities.     He  was  in  the  following 
eiectea  uy  m  g  re-elected  yearly  until 

^;par  chosen  governor  and  was  re  cict.i.tu  /       / 
S  i  duding  .840,     Mr.  Sabin  was  an  act.ve  .hough 
fair  and  honorable  participant  in  this  struggle.     It  was 
a  question  which  entered  into  the  national  parfes,  and 


J. 


se.    In  the  state 
jislature  investi- 
times.     In  Ver, 
din  1829  and  for 
:t.     In  October, 
ler  it  was  found 
governor.     The 
received    13.4^^ 
lie  candidate  had 
on  candidate  had 

:tion  of  Governor 
illots  the  Masonic 
lajority.     In  1831 
e  people,  but  the 
Imer,  was  chosen 
le.     In  1832  there 
id  after  43  ballots 
the  Governor.    In 
:andidate  by  a  ma- 
nour,  a  third   can- 
e  masonic  war  had 
w  the  election  into 
ere  successful.     In 
1  in  the  assembly 
eutenant  governor 
he  with  the  Treas- 
ididates,  and    were 
as  in  the  following 
lected  yearly  until. 
3  an  active  though  a 
s  struggle.     It  was 
lational  parties,  and 


Political  Record. 


103 


his  attention  was  turned  to  the  larger'fields  of  political 
activity.  In  1832  William  Wirt  was  a  presidential 
candidate,  and  Vermont  alone  gave  him  a  majority.  In 
that  year  Mr.  Sabin  received  36  votes  for  member  of 
congress. 

I"  '35.  '38  and  '40  he  was  the  representive  of  his 
town  in  the  Assembly  chosen  on  the  Anti-mason's  ticl<et. 
He  was  called  upon  to  lecture  on  the  subject  in  differ- 
ent places,  and  did  so  with  convincing  power.  He  was 
chosen  as  delegate  from  Vermont  to  the  American 
Anti-masonic  Convention  at  Philadelphia  in  1828,  and 
helped  to  frame  the  address  which  that  body  published 
to  the  country. 

Toward  the  close  of  this  decade  the  Masonic  question 
waned  in  its  prominence.  But  there  was  the  little 
cloud  in  the  west  which  was  destined  to  deluge  the 
land,  not  with  the  refreshing  showers  that  gladdened 
the  land  of  Palestine  at  the  prayer  of  Elijah,  but  with 
a  deluge  of  blood  that  should  flow  for  the  liberty  of  the 
slaves.  We  are  all  familiar  with  the  general  movement 
of  the  slave  question.  It  was  in  the  country  when  the 
Constitution  was  adopted.  There  were  then  many 
who  wished  to  get  rid  of  the  system,  but  the  confeder- 
ation was  not  received  with  as  much  euthusiasm  at  first 
as  it  was  defended  afterwards.  Probably  if  there  had 
been  an  attempt  to  do  anything  at  that  time  toward  a 
constitutional  interference  with  slavery,  it  would  have 
prevented  the  Federal  Union  entirely.  Furthermore 
there  was  good  reason  to  think  that  the  evil  would  cure 
itself,  if  left  in  peace.  As  a  matter  of  fact  slave  labor 
was  never  in  a  broad  sense  profitable  to  the  community 
which  had  it.  It  was  observed  by  those  of  that  day 
that  the  communities  of  New  England  prospered,  and 


H 


r 


'IH 


grew  in  intelligence   more    than   those   ^^  t|.e  South^ 
Ihere  were  many  of  the  slave  holders  who  looked  for 
gradual  emancipation  through  the   -profitablenes^of 
the  whole  system.     But  the  purchase  of  the  terr.tory 
of  Louisiana  and  its  admission  in   181  ^  opened  to  the 
people  of  the  states  a  great  and   rich   country  mto 
which  the  slaves  could  be  taken  for  the  --ng  of  cot^ 
ton.     Just  before  this  also  the.  perfection  of  the  ^0"°" 
gin  had  made  the  raising  of  cotton  more  profitable  than 
ft  had  formerly  been.     Thousands  were  movmg  to  the 
new   territory  and  taking  up  large    tracts   of  land   and 
embarking  in  the  cultivation   of  this   staple      In  1808 
the  importation  of  slaves  had  been  .mperat.vely   for- 
bidden     As  a  result  the   price  of  slaves  to  take  mto 
S^e  new  regions  was  greatly  increased.     Men  who  had 
•been  considered   slave-poor  found   themselves   m  pos- 
session  of  great  wealth  in  human  property.     They  na- 
turally became  intensely  hostile  to  any  movement  hkely 
■     to  disturb  unfavorably  the  value  of  the.r  hvmg  estates. 
The  Southern  members  in    Congress   watched   every 
opportunity  to  guard  and  strengthen  the  slave  power. 
As'nevv  states  Le  formed  from  the  Western  terr.tor.es 
it  was  a  part  of  the  policy  to  have  them  admitted  as 
slave  states.     The   North   was  opposed   to  this,   and, 
though  in  the  minority,  constantly  watched  the  oppor^ 
unity  to  head  off  the   advance   of  the  ev.l.     In     820 
the  state  of  Missouri  came  into  the  Union  after  a  long 
and  troublous  effort  lasting  for  two  years.     The  Re- 
strictionists  sought  to  demand   an   anti-slave   clause  m 
the  Constitution  of  the  state,  but  the  Southern  members 
objected  that  this  was  an  infringement  on  the  rights  of 
the  state      They  insisted  that  the  state  alone  could  de- 
termine i't.     Thb  was  the  early  Shiboleth  of  the  slave 


1^ 


;   of  the  South. 

who  looked  for 
[profitableness  of 

of  the  territory 
2  opened  to  the 
ch  country  into 
e  raising  of  cot- 
,on  of  the  cotton 
ire  profitable  than 
re  moving  to  the 
acts   of  land   and 

staple.  In  1808 
imperatively  for- 
ives  to  take  into 
1.  Men  who  had 
icmselves  in  pos- 
)perty.  They  na- 
y  movement  likely 
heir  living  estates. 
;s   watched   every 

the  slave  power. 
Western  territories 
them  admitted  as 
)sed  to  this,  and, 
matched  the  oppor- 
;he  evil.     In    1820 

Union  after  a  long 
I  years.  The  Re- 
inti-slave   clause  in 

Southern  members 
int  on  the  rights  of 
tate  alone  could  de- 
ooleth  of  the  slave 


Political  Record. 


105 


party.  "Leave  it  to  the  states,  do  not  interfete  with  the 
states  !  "  Finally  a  compromise  was  made  in  the  case 
of  Missouri  which  it  was  hoped  by  some  would  settle 
the  matter.  It  was  agreed  to  admit  the  state  as  a  slave 
state  with  the  provision  that  all  the  territory  north  of 
36  degrees  and  30  minutes  should  henceforth  be  free 
territory  except  so  much  as  was  contained  in  the  new 
state  of  Missouri.  The  slave  power,  would  it  was 
thought,  be  able  to  control  all  south  of  that  line. 

But  no  compromise  with  evil  ever  cures  it.  Tha' 
line  of  Mason  and  Dixon  as  it  was  called  made  two 
nations  of  that  which  was  called  one  nation.  All  im- 
portant legislation  must  be  determined  with  reference 
to  this  question  of  slavery.  The  purposes  of  the  two 
parts  became  so  different  that  the  legislation  for  the 
welfare  of  one  was  detrimental  to  the  other.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  North  was  to  train  all  the  inhabitants  to  in- 
telligent and  happy  self  support.  To  earn  one's  living 
Avas  the  honorable  thing  to  do.  Even  the  children  of 
the  wealthy  in  Vermont  thought  it  was  a  sign  of  weak- 
ness not  to  earn  their  way  in  the  world.  Hence  the 
feeling  was  strong  that  we  ought  to  encourage  manu- 
facturing of  all  goods  needed  for  home  consumption. 
This  would  furnish  honorable  and  diversified  employ- 
ment for  sons  and  daughters  near  home  ;  and  save  to 
our  own  citizens  the  profit  on  the  manufacture,  instead 
of  sending  all  but  the  cost  of  the  raw  material  to  some 
foreign  country.  It  was  held  that  even  if  we  paid  a 
larger  margin  to  the  home  manufacturer  than  was  paid 
to  the  foreign  trade  yet,  inasmuch  as  it  was  in  a  certain 
sense  in  the  family,  it  was  to  be  encouraged. 

But  the  whole  tendency  of  the  Southern  system  was 
toward  making  honest  labor  dishonorable.     They  pro- 


i 

m 


I 


Mi- 


r 


I 


106  ^iA'  ''f  ^'''-  ^^''''''  '^'"'""' 

The  encouraBcment   of  roanufactunnB  was  to  th.m 

a  tariff  which  would   keep  out  foreign  goods  and  thus 
reate  a  market  .or  those  made  ^V  our   own   people^ 
The  cotton  growing  states   desired   no  tar.ff  for  they 
could  get  foreign  goods  at  a  little  smal  er  P"<^- 

The   Protectionists  however  prevailed  m  Congress 
and  in  the  year  .828  a  high  protective  t-ff  was  «. 
dered      This  was  but  another  opportunity  for  the    a«th 
toTnsist  on  the  protection  of  the  rights  of  the  sta    s^ 
It  was  claimed  that  the  Congress  of  the  Un  ted  States 
had  no  right  to  say  whether  a  state  should  buy   its 
gls  in  one  market  or  another.     And  no  right  wa 
Wanted   to   impose   a  tax  on  them  when   there   were 
bought.  The  question  was  argued  with  a  great  earnest- 
ness because  it  was  really  the  question  of  slavery  that 
was  in  defence.     If  the  principle  of  State  Rights  was 
TstabHshed  in  this  matter  it  would  be  an   authoritative 

precedent  in  other  matters.  r.,^„„c 

In  connection  with  this  principle  was  the  famous 
sp  ech  of  Daniel  Webster  against  Mr.  Hayne,  of  South 
Car  oHna  Mr.  Hayne  took  the  ground  that  whenever 
Cong  es.  passed  a  law  which  in  the  judgment  of  any 
state' was' not  in  accord  with  the  ^of  tu Uon  .uch 
state  was  justified  in  refusing  to  obey  it.  J"  t^e^f  se 
unL  Consideration  South  Carolina  thought J.a  the 
law  of  the  tariff  was  not  constitutional,  and  hence  that 


!1' 


_L 


Political  Record. 


107 


rhcy  were  to  be 
vanted  as  cheap 
of  their  minds, 
r  was  to  them 

at  least  to  in- 
lis  radical  differ- 
ence of  wish  in 
ig  states  desired 

goods  and  thus 
ur   own   people. 
0  tariff  for  they 
ler  price, 
led  in  Congress, 
ve  tariff  was  or- 
lity  for  the  South 
Its  of  the  states. 
le  United  States 
e  should   buy   its 
ind  no  right  was 
when   there   were 
h  a  great  earnest- 
)n  of  slavery  that 
State  Rights  was 
:  an   authoritative 

:  was  the  famous 
■.  Hayne,  of  South 
und  that  whenever 
le  judgment  of  any 
Constitution,  such 
ey  it.  In  the  case 
thought  that  the 
nal,  and  hence  that 


state  was  not  bound  to  obey  it.  This  idea  was  carried 
out  in  I1S32  by  an  attempt  to  resist  the  collection  of 
duties  on  imported  goods  in  that  state.  lUit  General 
Jackson  was  President  then,  not  James  Huchanan,  the 
traitor. 

Mr.  Webster  argued  that  the  Constitution  declares 
that  laws  passed  by  Congress  in  accord  with  the  Con- 
stitution arc  the  supreme  laws  of  the  land,  and  that  no 
one  state  has  the  power  to  decide  that  a  law  is  not  in 
accord  with  the  Constitution. 

A  majority  of  the  states  must  agree  as  to  that  and 
must  express  their  views  through  their  representatives 

in  Congress. 

In  all  the  decade  this  question   was  gaining  promi- 
nence.    With  the  tariff  and  slavery  questions,  both  of 
which  were    vital    to   the   prosperity  of  the   country, 
under  discussion  the  whole  nation  was   awake  politic- 
ally. 

In  1837  came  the  great  panic.  This  was  attributed 
to  the  bad  government  of  the  party  in  power,  and 
caused  such  a  stir  that  the  administration  was  changed 
by  a  mighty  effort. 

To  an  observant  mind  the  one  real  question  of  that 
time  was:  How  shall  we  get  rid  of  slavery?  The 
North  was  not  content  to  stop  its  extention;  it  must  be 
banished  from  the  land.  In  regard  to  the  methods 
there  was  a  great  divergence  of  views.  Some  said, '  'Let 
Congress  abolish."  Others  said,  "Congress  has  no 
right  to  do  so."  Others  said,  "Take  away  the  restric- 
tions and  let  it  stand  on  its  merits  and  it  will  die  of  it- 
self." Societies  were  formed  in  the  states  to  promote 
a  sentiment  against  it,  but  there  was  no  political  or- 
ganization  in  Vermont  to  combat  it  until  1841.     The 


s 


IjjI  Jjfc  of  Riv.  Alvah  Sahin. 

fcdint:  was  however  very  bitter.  The  South  had  sent 
some  requests,  almost  amounting  to  demands  on  the 
wTr  hern  states.to  pass  laws  which  sl,ould  prevent  a«. 
tation  of  the  cp-esticm  They  supposed  that  .t  was  an 
elly  thing  to  ia,  the  free  people  of  Massaclu^eUsa^ 

New  York.     These  were  referred  to  a  committee.  The 
opponents  of  slavery  sought  and   obtained  a  hear.ng. 
°n  1  the  feeling  was  very  soon  developed  that  the  Nor  h- 
::n:tatesco.dd  manage  their  own  affairs  without  to 
help  of  any  slave  supported  Southern  anstocrat       Hut 
the  men  who  attempted  to  speak   .n   pubhc  were  sub- 
ect  to  abuse  and  mobs.     In  the  SouU.  t  ere  was  one 
sure   remedy   for   all   disturbances:      "Dupont  s   be  t 
powder  and  cold  steel."     No  Northern  man   was  safe 
?here,  unless  he  disgraced  his  native  state  by  professmg 
slavery  principles.  .  ,  . 

If  slavery  was  itself  a  bad  and  expensive  th  ng,  this 
n.ay  even  now  be  looked  upon  With  some  allowance, 
and  they  who  were  born  in  the  midst  of  .t  "J-y  ^e  cx^ 
Tused  for  not  despising  it.    But  the  disregard  of  human 
life  which  marked  the  pro-slavery  party  North  and  South 
has  no  excuse ;  and  is  the  convincing  test.mony  that 
llVe  holding  hardens  men's  hearts,   blunts  the.  sense 
of  right,  and  their  regard  for  the  rights  o    others. 

Anyone  who  is  at  all  familiar  with  the   character 
whtch  belongs  to  the  descendants  of  the  Gree..  Mour^ 
talH^oys  knows  that  this  question  stirred  the  people 
o    V  Xnt  to  the  depths  with   anger      A  na mister 
who  did  not  take  an  interest  in  it  and  make  that  inter- 
Ist  known  would  have  lost  his  influence.     Mr.  Sal^n 
deeded  no  such  spur  to  his   interest.     From  a  boy  he 
had  been  a  hater  of  slavery      As  a  man  ^e  ^^   a" 
anti-slavery  man  under  all  circumstances.     But  he  was 


I 


J. 


South  had  stMit 
cmaiuls  on  the 
iiUl  prevent  aj^i- 
d  that  it  was  an 
assacluisctts  and 
committee.  The 
lined  a  hearing;, 
d  that  the  North- 
airs  without  the 
aristocrat.      But 
pubUc  were  sub- 
h  there  was' one 
"Dupont's  best 
rn  man   was  safe 
tate  by  professing 

)cnsive  thing,  this 
some  allowance, 
;  of  it  may  be  ex- 
isregard  of  human 
[y  North  and  South 
,ng  testimony  that 
blunts  their  sense 
jhts  of  others, 
vith  the   character 
the  Gree.-i  Moun- 
stirred  the  people 
anger.     A  minister 
id  make  that  inter- 
luence.     Mr.  Sabin 
;.     From  a  boy  he 
a  man  he  was  an 
:ances.     But  he  was 


Political  Rfcord. 


IO<j 


never  identified  with  the  Abolition  party  He  alwayn 
spoke  and  voted  anti  slavery  when  that  qutAiJ'nn  was 
involved,  and  they  who  elected  hifi>i  to  any  office  kne\v 
he  would  do  so.  He  often  spoke  on  the  question  in 
his  own  town  and  in  other  places.  In  1833  he  was  en- 
gaged by  the  American  Anti-.SIavery  Society  to  lectuie 
in  northern  Vermont.  Before  beginning  the  work  he 
went  with  many  others  to  a  meeting  at  Philadelphia, 
where  he  met  Wm,  Lloyd  Garrison,  Arthur  and  Lewis 
Tappan,  Dr.  Beeman  and  many  other  prominent  work- 
ers in  the  cause  of  freedom.  In  the  following  winter 
he  spoke  on  the  subject  in  nearly  every  town  in  the 
counties  of  Franklin,  Lamoille,  Chittenden  and  Grand 
Isle.  'His  known  anti-slavery  sentiments  thus  gave  him 
a  great  influence  in  the  Whig  party  of  which  he  was  an 
adherent.  There  were  some  who  were  not  satisfied  to 
have  him  there,  and  who  insisted  that  he  pulled  down 
with  one  hand  what  he  built  up  with  the  other.  But 
he  never  regretted  his  course.  He  was  not  a  radical. 
He  was  a  prudent  man  who  could  not  only  see  both 
sides  and  all  the  contingencies  of  a  question  but  he 
deemed  it  a  duty  to  do  so  and  to  act  in  the  light  of 
them.  And  he  believed  in  controlling  as  far  as  possible 
when  he  could  not  have  things  all  his  own  way. 

The  slave  power  was  not  only  a  strong  one  but  a 
thoroughly  united  one.  It  needed  every  man  of  the 
North  to  hold  it  in  check  ;  and  any  weakening  of  the 
numbers  was  sure  to  increase  the  power  of  the  South. 
He  said,  "It  is  better  to  keep  with  the  party  that  is 
nearest  right,  and  make  the  best  anti-slavery  platform 
that  is  practiccable.  This  will  tend  to  convert  the  in- 
different ones  and  to  sv/ell  the  ranks  of  the  Abolition- 
ists." 


,  lo  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

Whatever  this  prP.v...ple  may  do  in  some  cases,  in  the 
W~t;  in  Ve,-.ont  it   was  the  -ans  of    good 
There   were   many   anti-slavery  men   m   it    ^"^  U^^'^ 

,o  satisfy  the  most  zealous  Abolifomsts 

In  18^6  while  other  places  throughout  the  country 
In  1836 «"«  1-        f  f    ^j„„,    Vern.ont   was 

roTfreefromtleshte.  A  meeting  was  broken  up  m 
Mon  p  1  "but  the  next  day  Mr.  Sabin  'ntroduced  a 
^soTut  n  ecommending  the  legislature  to  pass  some 
act  making  it  a  misdemeanor  to  disturb  an  assembly  of 
ordeTy  people,  whatever  the  subject  of  their  d.scuss.on 
ih  be  And  in  support  of  the  resolution  he  made 
Tnt  ntt  speech  for  -he  right  of  free  discuss.cn^  Th,s 
wis  t^e    rst  actof  the  Vermont  legislature  and  h,s  was 

better  pleased  to  let  them  remam  so.     There  was  an  ir 
renres^ble  conflict  coming.     In  what  way  it  would  be 
broult  on  no  one  knew  ;  but  the  merest  tyro  m  history 
cou  d  see  that  two  so  difl-erent  interests  as  slavery  and 
freedom  could  not  exist  in  the  same  government, 
'"n  Alton.   Illinois,  there  was  a  brutal  attack  on  an 
earnest   godly  man.  Rev.  Owen  Lovejoy.  and  he  was 
fina'y  murdered  for  pleading  with  his  Christian  friends 
to  2e  up  slavery.     The  cruelty  of  that  town  was  such 
nThe    whole   proceeding  as    to  make   that    town   a 


J 


ome  cases,  in  the 
means  of  good, 
in  it,  and  their 
irty  platforms  in 
lent.  Mr.  Sabin 
e  was  invariably 
resolutions  con- 
are  strong  enough 

its, 

dout  the  country 
in,    Vermont   was 
was  broken  up  in 
;abin  introduced  a 
;ure  to  pass  .some 
irb  an  assembly  of 
of  their  discussion 
csolution  he  made 
ee  discussion.  This 
islature  and  his  was 
the  subject, 
an.     It  was  getting 
th  would  not  be  sat- 
or   the   North   any 
).     There  was  an  ir- 
lat  way  it  would  be 
erest  tyro  in  history 
erests  as  slavery  and 
e  government, 
brutal  attack  on  an 
jvejoy,  and  he  was 
his  Christian  friends 
f  that  town  was  such 
make   that    town  a 


Political  Record. 


Ill 


foul  blot  on  the  ?tate.  Yet  this  was  only  one  of  the 
numberless  and  nameless  crimes  that  were  committed 
against  men  for  expressing  hostility  to  what  was  the 
condensation  and  crystalization  of  all  crimes. 

Finally  the  sentiment  was  so  strong  that  petitions 
began  to  be  sent  in  great  numbers  to  Congress  to  do 
something  in  mitigation  of  the  evil.  But  the  sensitive 
spirit  of  the  Southern  aristocrats  could  not  endure  such 
reminders  of  their  guilt.  A  petition  on  the  subject, 
like  the  ghost  of  Banquo  to  Macbeth,  stirred  the  mem- 
ory of  a  crime  for  which  there  was  a  coming  judgment. 
Congress  passed  resolutions  not  to  notice  any  petitions 
of  this  sort.  But  at  the  next  session  they  would  be 
sent  in,  and  a  new  act  of  treachery  was  needed  to  quiet 
them  for  the  year.  Finally,  through  the  bravery  of 
John  Q.  Adams  who  for  seven  full  hours  stood  upon  the 
floor  of  Congress,  amid  storms  of  abuse  claiming  his 
right  to  the  floor,  and  to  read  the  petition  of  his  con- 
stituency, the  dull  sense  of  the  South  began  to  awake 
to  the  fact  that  some  thing  was  to  be  done,  and  slavery 
was  at  last  abolished  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 
Stormy  times  followed  for  many  years,  until  a  mightier 
than  man  laid  His  hand  onthe  question  and  it  was  set- 
tied  forever.  But  during  all  the  struggle  until  1857  Mr, 
Sabin  was  an  active  participant  in  behalf  of  freedom. 
In  1840  he  was  in  the  As/sembly ;  in  '41,  '43,  '44,  '45, 
in  the  Senate  from  Franklin  Co.  ;  again  in  the  Assem- 
bly in  '47,  '48,  '49,'  '61,  '62.  In  1841  he  was  made 
Secretary  of  state.  The  following  is  the  account  he 
gave  of  this  : 

"Chauncey  L.  Knapp  had  been  Secretary  for  several 
years  before,  a.d  did  the  work  of  oflice  well.  He  was 
put  out  because  he  was  an  adherent  of  the  third  or  anti- 


I 


I 

I 


.Hverv  oartv'  and  I  was  put  in  because  I  was  anti  slav- 
tbutn^o^eofthe   third  party.     The  Whigs  knew 
Tat  I  could  carry  more  of  the  -tes  o    the^lurd  party 
than  any  one  whom   they  could  select.      They  knew 
ha     there  was  but  a  shade  of  difference  be  ween  the 
iws  o   Mr.    Knapp  and  myself.     It  was  all  planned 
Xknown  to  mefand  Mr.  KnapP  was  the    rst  .ve   o 
inform  me  that  1  was  to  run  agamst  h.m^  I  most  smcerely 
declined   the  nomination.     One   of  the  dut.es  of  the 
Ice  was  to  read  the  reports  of  the  county  conven,on 
in  the  joint   sessions  of  the  legislature.     These  were 
wrtten  in  the  blindest  manner,    and  I   was  not  at  al 
Teady^n  reading   the  writing  of  others.     And  when  I 
ound  that  I  was  elected  in  spite  of  my  remonstrance. 
I  was  n  exquisite  pain  day  and  night,  for     had  reason 
L  .ear  that^  should  ^Pe-^^^,^ 

the  salary  as  if  he  were  the  Secretary,  and  I  had  no 
troubt  about  it.  The  Whigs  who  elected  me  never 
found  any  fault  with  this.  As  I  had  deemed  the  pos  - 
"n  at  tJo  meetings.  1  think  they  knew  I  was  not  sol. 
cLus   for   it.    and  perhaps  they   expected  me  to  do 

ThlfaLTbe- -ti^    thathe  received  36  votes 
for  Congr  s   one  year  in  the  Anti-masonic  convention 
TWs  wa's  not  of  much  value,  yet  itwas  a  straw   o-d. 
cate  the  possibilities  of  the  future.     About  1 848  he  re 
ce  ved  18  votes  in  the  convention,  from  Frankhn  Co^ 
o    Congressman.     This  fairly  brought  h.s  name  to 
notice.     In  1850  the  state  lost  one  Congressman,  and 


^1 


Political  Record. 


I  was  anti  slav- 
le  Whigs  knew 
the  third  party 
They  knew 
:e  between  the 
vas  all  planned 
the  first  one  to 
I  most  sincerely 
;  duties  of  the 
nty  conventions 
e.     These  were 
I   was  not  at  all 
1.     And  when  I 
y  remonstrance, 
for  I  had  reason 
i.     I  avoided  ex- 
the  Senate,  who 
This  he  did  for 
inted  Mr.  Knapp 
\c  work  and  took 
y,  and  I  had  no 
[ected   me  never 
declined  the  posi- 
2W  I  was  not  soli- 
tpected  me  to  do 

received  36  votes 
isonic  convention, 
as  a  straw  to  indi- 
A-bout  1848  he  re- 
rom  FrankUn  Co. 
ight  his  name  to 
Congressman,  and 


"3 


this  made  a  new  districting  pecessary.  The  Whigs  so 
divided  it  that  two  districts  would  surely  have  Whig 
majorities.  The  northern  district  was  left  doubtful. 
At  a  convention  in  Johnson,  in  1852,  he  was  nominated 
for  Congress.  He  entered  the  canvass  heartily.  There 
was  little  hope  of  success  for  the  Democrats  but  the 
■third  party  were  to  be  overcome.  There  was  no  choice 
by  the  people.  A  new  election  was  called.  Under  the 
law  of  the  state  a  plurality  vote  elects  in  a  second 
election,  and  by  such  vote  he  was  successful. 

He  went  to  Congress  in  March,  1853.     The  Demo- 
crats had  a  majority  in  both  houses  and  Franklin  Pierce 
was  not  the  man  to  veto  anything  they  did  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  slavery,  or  the  protection  of  its  interests. 
But  the  reaction  of  wickedness  was  beginning  to   be 
felt.   All  law  and  all  right  had  been  made  subservient  to 
the  one  great  wrong,   slavery.     But  as  Mr.   Greely  so 
forcefully  said,  "They  who  do  wrong  not  only  sin  but 
blunder."  So  the  blunder  of  their  course  was  appearing. 
In  the  "Compromise"  of  1850,  in  which  Mr.  Webster 
turned  traitor  to  his  own  life  record,   the  principle  was 
conceded  that  fugitive  slaves  must  be  returned.     Laws 
to  that  effect  were  passed,  and  the  whole  North  became 
a   field  for  slave  hunting.     Nothing  could  have  been 
better  planned  to  give  the  Northern  people  a  just  idea 
of  what  slavery  was  than  this.     To  hear  of  slavery  is 
one  thing,  and  to  see  a  fellow  being  chased  like  a  dog, 
shot  at  like  a  robber,  then  hand-cuffed  and  taken  back 
to  life  long  bondage  worse  than  deaths  quite  another 
thing.     The   pro-slavery  men   at    the    North   became 
ashamed   of  themselves  and  thousands  deserted  their 
party  and  became   at   least   neutrals   in    the   contest. 
Many  joined  the  anti-slavery  party. 


si 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


Mr  Sabin  was  in  Congress  at  this  time  when  the  fear 
of  "on  one  side  and  the  growing  confidence  on  the 
other  made  the  contest  most  bitter 

He  was  tried  beyond  measure  mh.s  ^^^  ^ ^^ 
a  Christian  spirit  toward  men.     He  had  a  hatre 

-:r  t::-;::trden^^^^^^^     ^a. 

Ttl  "T'a  aTperfecUy  reconciled  to  his  death." 
death  he  said,     1  f|  pe"e     y        ^  ^^^^    ^^^ 

1  Tal  gUd  to  get  away,  it  had  been  a  constant  wrangle 

■    "*Ak:: teSng  he  was  Senator  from  hU  county  t.o 

"The  interest  in  such  affairs  was  fresh  until  the  last 
W?c:n:thett..osethUchap^«-^^^^^^^^ 

t  ^\"Sr':l' tu'gVwtHt  up  on  the  unadulter- 
ated milk  of  the  New  York   Trib««^: 

The  Democrats  who  are  really  the  South,  have  en- 

llwha.  theycouldtoretrieve  ">*  fortunes  and. o,.^ 
';,"„  their  forfer  prestige  whicK  was  annua^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

TconS:  tz^^^^^i^-^  i-:-: 
tr;:^:rrara^t«ora-rrsitLof 


f' 


'r; 


J. 


me  when  the  fear 
confid';nce  on  the 

lis  effort  to  keep 
id  a  hatred  of  the 
at  he  never  over- 
ding  Sumner  car- 
ed until  he  could 
heard  of  Brooks' 
died  to  his  death." 
t  was  humble ;  but 

0  all  that  was  pre- 
iouse.  The  votes 
jod  of  the  country. 

1  a  constant  wrangle 

rom  his  county  two 

fresh  until  the  last. 
:r  than  with  a  letter 
1  who  was  disposed 
up  on  the  unadulter- 
te: 

the  South,  have  en- 
f  the  entire  country, 
lefeat  that  they  have 
leir  fortunes  and  to  re- 
/as  annihilated  by  the 
ict  of  reconstruction, 
lendments.     It  shows 
iment  lies,  it  shows  to 
not  a  confederation  of 


Political  Record. 


115 


states,  and  that  the  government  is  dearer  to  the  hearts 
of  the  people  than  all  other  blessings  combined. 

The  Republicans  may  congratulate  themselves  and 
the  country  that  the  party  went  through  the  ordeal  of 
the  Chicago  Convention  and  came  out  as  unscathed  as 
it  did.  The  several  candidates  stand  as  high  in  the 
party  and  in  the  country  as  they  did  before  the  Conven- 
tion and  their  harmony  in  support  of  the  common  cause 
has  not  been  interrupted  and  all  are  in  harmony  with  the 
President-elect.  The  political,  financial  and  business 
affairs  of  the  country  were  never  more  promising  than 
at  this  time.  The  country  is  not  only  satisfied,  but 
highly  gratified  with  the  man  they  have  elected.  They 
are  proud  of  his  talent,  his  morals,  his  discreetness,  his 
affability,  his  statesmanship. 

Now  as  to  the  political  state  of  our  country.  The 
Democrats  of  the  South  claim  the  right  to  manage  their 
own  election  of  President,  Vice-President  and  members 
of  Congress  and  Senators  as  they  please ;  and  that  Con- 
gress has  no  right,  by  its  Marshals  or  Inspectors  to 
supervise  these  elections  at  all.  Now  if  the  South  con- 
ducted these  elections  according  to  law  and  justice  there 
would  be  no  occasion  for  Inspectors  or  Supervisors.  An 
honest  man  has  a  right  to  go  where  he  pleases,  and  the 
law  is  to  protecthim.  But  suppose  there  are  half  a  dozen 
indictments  against  him  for  arson,  thefts  and  rape,  and  he 
claims  the  protection  of  the  law,  what  does  the  court  say 
to  him.  The  protection  of  the  honest  man  implies  the 
apprehension  and  punishment  of  the  dishonest.  To  treat 
them  both  alike  is  to  neutralize  all  laws  and  all  protection. 

The  North  is  just  as  much  interested  in  the  elections 
of  the  South  as  to  United  States  officers  as  they  are  in 
the  elections  of  the  North,   and  the  South  is  as  much 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


,', l„e».ed  in  .he  elections  of  the  North  -  j'^e  iou*^ 
TI.PV  are  one  eovernment  organized  under  tne  one 
IonT.i.u"on.  an'd  acting  under  one  law  and  vo -g 
for  the  sanje  omcer,  who  a.  'ho-  <-  P  -ae^-': 
theentre  Union.  One  state  can  n"*^  t-  ^^ 
'Xpiacesofa    t^    .at. 

ftrmerTTnl  '^t  .L  Icnate.  They  have 
the  pIweTto  send  for  persons  and  papers  to  prove  or 
*  pSe  the  facts  in  any  disputed  case.  Co„gres-s  the 
.  ^f  lastaotjeal  Then  in  adopting  the  three  last 
rdln'tfortL  constitution,  '^"e  "s  a  spe.al  pr. 
vision  that  Congress  shall  have  powe  -  P^-  ^^^^  ^ 
carry  out  these  provivis.ons.     It  was  w.tn 

5--srrof^--afoSc:^; 

democrats  in  Congress  saddled  the  W-P^^^^^^'^ 

with  the  provision  that  caused  Hayes  veto  and  caused 

rte  extra  session.    These  Marshals  were  bound  by  the 

:  :  tuch  as  the  Judges  appointed  by  .»".^^-tW- 

ities,  and  there  is  no  complaint  that  these  Maj'^U^^^r 

decided  any  case  wrongly  or  a«a.nst  law.  Bu   the  State 

Rtehts  men  claim  that  they  have  the  sole  nght  to  de 

TthSr  questions,  although  *eir  decjs.ons  ma^  d  ■ 

termine  who  shall  be  President  of  the  Un.ted  SUtes, 

atTght  be  the  case  in  a  very  close  and  equal  d.v- 

^ihr:^i*ror^\?:"';:tr:-  b.^  mto  umon 

wa?a  legiSe  act  the  most  difficult  to  be  performed. 


^i  t^  ,,.,,..=s'.'?w':*t«a«M^-^""-*'^'^- 


«. 

I  as  in  the  South. 

under   the   one 
law,   and   voting 

to  preside  over 
ot   supervise   the 
le  House  of  Re- 
of  the  election  of 
nate.    They  have 
ipers  to  prove  or 
e.  Congress  is  the 
ting  the  three  last 
re  is  a  special  pro- 
r  to  pass  acts,   to 
;  with  reference  to 
lassed  the  act  ma- 
l  their  deputies  to 
1  cases  and  to  su- 
ted   States   officers 
was  with  a  view  to 
lese  duties  that  the 
:  appropriation  bill 
s  veto  and  caused 
were  bound  by  the 
by  the  state  author- 
these  Marshals  ever 
:  law.   But  the  State 
he  sole  right  to  de- 
r  decisions  may  de- 

the  United  States, 
:lose  and  equal  divi- 

es. 

es  back  into  Union 

ult  to  be  performed. 


Political  Record. 


117 


Instead  of  prosecution  and  condemnation,  confiiication, 
and  executions,  the  Rebels  were  pardoned  by  thou- 
sands and  even  their  civil  disabilities  removed  and  they 
were  made  eligible  to  seats  in  Congress.  The  Vice 
President  of  the  Confederacy  comes  back  to  his  old  seat 
in  Congress  and  40  Rebel  Brigadiers  step  into  vote 
measures  to  pay  the  debt  of  the  government ;  they 
fought  four  years  to  destroy,  and  to  decide  on  the 
claims  of  the  sick  and  wounded  Union  soldiers  for  pen- 
sions, and  to  decide  on  claims  for  damage  done  to  citi- 
zens in  the  Southern  states  under  the  claim  that  they 
were  Union  men.  While  they  had  occasion  to  be 
thankful  to  their  stars  for  the  magnanimity  of  Congress 
they  subdued,  mortified,  the  object  of  the  rebellion  lost, 
having  their  war  debt  repudiated,  and  they  them- 
selves bankrupt,  they  were  in  no  state  of  mind  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  members  of  Congress  impartially. 
They  have  as  much  reason  to  be  thankful  for  the  pardon 
of  their  crimes  against  the  government  as  the  Blacks 
had  for  Emancipation. 

Instead  of  accepting  the  situation  and  coming  back  to 
sustain  the  new  state  of  things  they  labour  to  thwart 
every  government  measure. 

The  war  was  waged  to  confirm  slavery  in  the 
Union.  They  appealed  to  arms  for  the  decision.  And 
by  arms  it  was  decided.  They  were  bound  by  every 
principle  of  honor  to  abide  by  the  decision  and  all  that 
came  in  to  Congress  solemnly  promised  to  do  so.  The 
Blacks  had  no  agency  in  bringing  about  the  war.  But 
the  government  called  them  into  the  field  to  fighc  the 
battles  of  the  country  with  the  implied  promise  that  they 
should  have  freedom  and  the  same  civil  rights  as  other 
Union  soldiers.     The  Blacks  understood  the  objects  of 


J: 

I 


j^-r^.  j-M;^^;»Sf*ia.-«-*-**«'''-*^ 


k 


llS  Life  of  Rnu  Alvah  Sabtn. 

the  war  and  they  were  all  Union  men  and  fought  bvavely. 
Nortfie  government  is  bound  to  protect  them  as  .f 
Thev  were  white  men.     To  leave  them  in  the  hand  of 
*'ku  kTux.-  "White  Leagues."  .'Regulators." and law- 
lefs  bands  \o  be  striped,  their  houses  burned  the.r  w.ves 
ravished   their  children  thrown  in  the  street  and  them 
resllgtotheUmbs   of  the   trees,   like  sheep-th.e 
do",  all  this  in  time  of  peace,  years  after  the  close  of 
the%;ar  and  they,  the  Blacks,  free   men  and   nommaUy 
under  the  protection  of  law.  is  h.gh-handed  treachery  , 
yet  the  murderers  run  at  large  and  their  cr.mes  are  com- 
r. ended  as  acts  of  patriotism  ^X  a  majority  of  the  w^^^^^^^ 
citizens   and  also  by  many  Democrats  m  the  northern 
sates      And  after   killing   more   than  three   thousand 
r^en   and  utterly  annihilating  the  civil  rights  of  four 
m  m^n  of  people,  they  still  adhere  to  their  helhsh  pol- 
^yAndLy' Leave  the  blacks  in  our  hand   we  can 
take  care  of  them  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  the  blacks 

"1  ptesute  Howel  Cobb,  of  Georgia,  thinks  the  blacks 
have  been  treated  as  tenderly  as  the  case  would  admit 
of      I  think  with  Abraham  Lincoln  that  if  the  govern- 
ment Indons  the  emancipated  slave  to  the  mercdess 
Cruelty  of  their  old  masters  they  deserve  the  hotest  hell. 
Emancipation  included  the  liberty  and  rights  of  c.t.zens 
before  the  law.     Their  freedom   has  hardly  been  sem.- 
nom  nal      I  think  that  the  Republicans  had  better  ms.st 
upTn  all  that  the  law  and  the  constitut  on  guarantees  to 
the  black  man.     When  the  South  begins  to  respect  the 
a^s  made  to  protect  the  black  man  then  the  .overn- 
mint  may  rJ\t  some  of  the  care  they  have  over  them. 
S  antrignanimity  came  after  the  battle  ;  not  before 
Kt      Sugar  plums  should  not  be  given  to  children  until 


=.-,...Lrii..v4y-'rt-*«»te''' 


^^  .. ,^^,_^^^^,-„ i,5.3.;,:j,«<«s.Ssai^nn«""^-*^7 


^Sfij^^SSS^i^^^rf^ 


1  fought  bi  avely. 
otect  them  as  if 

in  the  hand  of 
Lilators,"andlaw- 
irned,  their  wives 
street  and  them- 

Uke  sheep-thief 
.  after  the  close  of 
;n  and  nominally 
landed  treachery; 
:ir  crimes  are  com- 
jority  of  the  white 
ts  in  the  northern 
in  three   thousand 
ivil  rights  of  four 
;o  their  hellish  pol- 
our  hand,  we  can 
of  both  the  blacks 

a,  thinks  the  blacks 

2  case  would  admit 
that  if  the  govern- 
,ve  to  the  merciless 
jrve  the  hotest  hell, 
nd  rights  of  citizens 
s  hardly  been  semi- 
ans  had  better  insist 
tution  guarantees  to 
legins  to  respect  the 
an  then  the  -overn- 
ley  have  over  them, 
e  battle  ;  not  before 
iven  to  children  until 


Political  Record. 


119 


they  have  done  kicking  and  striking  their  mothers. 
The  Democrats  of  the  South  are  doing  their  utmost 
against  the  government  as  much  as  they  were  in  1862. 
Their  opposition  shows  itself  in  the  state  laws  that  have 
driven  more  than  50,000  freed  men  out  of  their  native 
states,  who  would  have  been  glad  to  remain  among  their 
friends  and  homes.  I  hope  General  Garfield  will  make 
no  concession  until  the  South  shows  a  disposition  not 
to  indulge  in  a  political  persecution  that  has  driven  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  from  the  polls  and  by  tissue  ballots 
and  false  counting  has  changed  the  political  character  of 
the  state. 

As  a  consequence  Piesidential  electors  and  members 
of  congress  hold  their  offices  that  have  no  more  right 
there,  than  you  or  I  have.  They  have  changed  their 
tactics  several  times,  but  still  no  political  party  is  allowed 
to  exist  but  the  Democratic  party.  And  the  bulldos- 
ing  law  is  the  strongest  law  of  the  land.  It  may  be  said 
that  there  are  thousands  in  the  South  that  are  opposed 
to  all  this  bulldosing-policy.  If  so  why  do  they  not  unite 
and  put  it  down  ?  Some  say  they  dare  not.  Then  let 
us  help  them  by  restricting  their  hellish  influence_as  best 
we  can.  The  freedman  in  process  of  time  will  take  care 
of  his  own  right.  And  the  South  may  find  the  harrow 
the  other  side  up  to  their  sorrow.  The  South  has  not 
yet  atoned  for  starving  twenty  thousand  prisoners  to 
death. 

A.  Sabin. 


IT 


180 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


il 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


GLEANINGS. 

Mr  Sabin  was  accustomed  to  write  out  his  meditations 
and  opinions  for  the  sake  of  fixing  them  m  memory 
Many  of  these  scraps  of  writing  have  been  P^e-rved 
and   some   of  them  are  inserted   here  as  md.cat.ons  of 
his  thought,  and  forms  of  expression. 

In  additiin  some  extracts  from  letters  are  g.ven  and 
condensed  notes  on  various  topics.  Better  than  any 
other  way.  can  we  thus  draw  the  lines  of  h,s  nonU  pic- 
ture, and  preserve  some  historic  memories  tr.  the.r  na- 
tive  form. 


The  following  unfinished  ac.o.ntof  his  first  wife  was 
ineiouow    s  y         deemed  worth 

found  among  his  papers,     it  na.  .^„Her- 

nreserving  as  an  indication  of  the  strength  and  tender 
TeW  h'  family  traits.     It  bears  the  mark  of  having 
been  written  in  1877. 

To  my  Chlldren.-An  account  of  your  Mother. 

As  you  were  children,  Anna  but  ^^ ^^^^'}^' ^f.  ""^ 
Dianthia  but  three  and  a  half  years  old.  she  died.  I 
have  had  it  in  my  mind  to  pen  a  succinct  history 
of  your  lovely  and  affectionate  mother.  Her  particular 
hLt'ory  can  no'  of  course  be  recollected  by  either  of  you. 


lli, 

it 


-i^t*..-  ■ 


r.lfi^J^L'ii**"- 


i_^  t  T~  'T;^''^^gtifc~  ' 


^..<w^=J  ^'jB**"^^^'* 


_i 


ft. 


Gleanings. 


121 


ut  his  meditations 

hem  in  memory. 

been  preserved ; 

e  as  indications  of 

;rs  are  given  and 

Better  than  any 

,  of  his  mental  pic- 

lories  iri  their  na- 


>f  his  first  wife  was 
>en  deemed  worth 
trength  and  tender- 
he  mark  of  having 


your  Mother. 

six  months  eld  and 
5  old,  she  died.  I 
a  succinct  history 
ler.  Her  particular 
ted  by  either  of  you, 


even  for  the  last  year  of  her  life,  and  all  before  that 
must  be  summed  up  in  what  you  have  heard  remarked 
by  me  and  other  friends.  As  I  am  an  old  man  tind  have 
but  a  slender  hold  on  life,  and  am  in  possession  of  some 
facts  that  it  may  be  gratifying  to  the  grandchildren  to 
know,  I  have  resolved  that  I  would  pen  down  some 
things  at  length,  in  such  a  form  that  if  you  should  think 
them  worth  preserving  you  could  do  so.  The  penning 
of  them  will  at  least  be  gratifying  to  me.  We  doubly 
enjoy  our  friends,  first,  by  associating  with  them,  and 
second  by  our  recollection  of  them  ;  and  sometimes  the 
second  is  equal  to  the  first.  I  was  associated  with  the 
mother  of  my  children  a  little  more  than  twelve  years 
after  our  marriage.  I  have  enjoyed  the  recollection  of 
her  amiableness  a  little  more  than  thirty-eight  years. 
There  is  at  all  times  in  mind  the  memory  ot  a  young, 
sweet-tempered,  affectionate  mother  of  a  little  family  of 
six  children  in  whom  her  whole  soul  was  bound  up,  and 
for  whom  she  watched,  labored  and  prayed  incessantly. 
I  love  still  to  dream  of  her.  I  love  still  to  think  of  her, 
and  I  often  pray  that  hei  daughters  and  grand-daughters 
may  be  like  her. 

If  she  were  now  alive  (1877)  she  would  be  an  old 
woman  of  seventy-two  years,  but  all  my  associations 
with  her  name  are  with  a  young  woman  several  years 
the  junior  of  my  youngest  daughter. 

Her  father.  Rive  Roswell  Mears  was  born  at  Poult- 
ney,  Vt.,  April  16,  1772.  Her  mother  was  Annie 
Glines. 

Your  mother  was  married  in  the  twentieth  year  of  her 
age,  October  14,  18 19,  and  she  died  on  the  i8th  day 
of  January,  1833.  My  acquaintance  with  her  was 
from  the  time  her  father  moved  into  Georgia  in  1808. 


siJSi^jVift-^-  *A«5**-"  '"'-''■ 


r 


¥J^ 


,2a  Life  of  Rn>.  Alvah  Sabin. 

They   lived    at   the   foot  of    the   hill    below   our   old 

house.  J,, 

I  well  recollect  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  her.     She 
came  with  her  brother  Roswell  to  the  hill  on  an  errand. 
She  was  a  little  chubby  K'rl  of  about  cit;ht  years.     She 
had  on  a  brown  home-wade  woolen  slip.     Her  skni  was 
very  white  and   her   long  brown   hair   hung   over   her 
shoulders  contrasting  beautifully  with  her  large  blue 
eyes  and  light  complexion.     She  was  of  a  light  spirited 
happy  turn  of  mind.     The  intercourse  of  the  children 
of  the  two  families  was  intimate  and  pleasant,   and  of 
long  continuance. 

In  process  of  time  an  intimacy  between  her  and  my- 
self of  a  somewhat  particular  character  seemeci  to  have 
grown  out  of  an  every  day  intercourse,  until   it   was 
taken  for  granted  by  all  the  youth,  and  by  the  people 
generally  that  it  would  culminate  in  a  union  for  hfe  ; 
but  as  she  was  only  a  child  of  twelve  or  fourteen,  of 
course  no  propositions  were  made.     I  taught  school  in 
the  Ballard  district  for  seven  winters  in  succession,  and 
she  attended  school  and  boarded  with  some  of  the  fa- 
milies of  the  district.     There  I  learned  that  she  had  an 
unusual  aptitude  for  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  what  was 
taught  in  the  school.     I  never  saw  a  scholar   who  ob- 
tained so  perfect  a  knowledge  of  all  the  steps  in  the  so- 
lution of  a  problem  in  cube  root  in  so  short  a  time  as 

she  did.  ,      ,       .    ^     u 

She  apprehended  readily  and  retained  what  she 
learned  indefinitely.  Her  progress  in  mathematics  was 
unusually  rapid.  She  went  through  Adams'  Arithme- 
tic and  also  studied  Geometry  and  Trigonometry  and 
Astronomy  as  taught  in  Furgersons  work  on  that  sub- 
ject. 


it 


'L 


i^„  -.^'lii'TiA-y^*.'-* 


___, ..,  ^■.  .  ,;.,f;^^f^  .r^-'  ^;^-  ■= 


below   our  old 

r  saw  her.  She 
U  on  an  errand, 
ijjht  years.  She 
I.     Her  skin  was 

hung  over  her 
I  her  large  blue 
)f  a  light  spirited 

of  the  children 
pleasant,   and  of 

/cen  her  and  my- 
r  seemed  to  have 
irse,  until   it   was 
id  by  the  people 
a  union  for  life ; 
■e  or  fourteen,  of 
I  taught  school  in 
in  succession,  and 
h  some  of  the  fa- 
;d  that  she  had  an 
irledge  of  what  wa? 
a  scholar   who  ob- 
the  steps  in  the  so- 
so  short  a  time  as 

retained  what  she 
n  mathematics  was 
I  Adams'  Arithme- 
Trigonometry  and 
i  work  on  that  sub- 


Cleanins^s. 


123 


As  I  Ix'f^'ii'  to  study  with  a  view  to  the  ministry  we 
had  sevcr.ii  icct  sch(M)ls  in  town  that  were  very  excel- 
lent ones  ,1  now  thittk.  These  were  continued  for 
several  years  and  finally  ended  in  an  incorporated  Aca- 
demy. 

I  carried  the  bill  for  the  charter  through  the  Legis- 
lature after  I  was  a  member.  I  now  think  that  I  was 
the  principal  originator  of  this  school,  as  I  sftw  nc  other 
way  by  which  I  could  school  myself  but  to  originate  out. 
at  my  own  door  as  it  were.  As  I  commenced  the  study 
of  Liitin,  I  persuaded  Father  Mears  to  let  her  board  at 
our  house  and  commence  the  study  with  me,  and  she 
did  so.  Tliis  she  seemed  to  have  a  particular  aptitude 
for  acquiring.  Her  memory  was  much  more  retentive 
than  my  own,  and  the  only  af)ology  I  could  make  for 
myself,  was  that  I  had  so  many  family  cares  and  things 
to  occupy  my  mind,  that  I  could  not  give  my  undivided 
attention  to  the  study  as  she  could.  When  I  began  the 
study  of  Greek,  she  began  also.  In  this  she  made  rapid 
progress,  and  when  I  left  for  Philadelphia  in  December, 
1817,  she  could  read  the  Latin  Reader,  Virgil,  Cicero'.s 
Orations,  the  Latin  Testament,  the  Greek  Reader  and 
the  Greek  Testament,  as  well  as  most  graduates  that 
are  not  engaged  in  teaching.  She  read  the  Latin  and 
Greek  Testaments  almost  as  readily  as  in  the  English. 
It  used  to  be  pleasureable  to  hear  her  read  without 
translating,  or  translate  without  pronouncing  the  orig- 
inal.    Pathenia  had  a  somewhat  like  aptitude. 

She  had  a  pleasant  countenance,  and  knew  how  to 
express  herself  affectionately  to  all  with  whom  she  had 
to  do.  Her  acquaintances  were  affectionate  friends. 
Her  conversation  was  always  pleasing.  I  ever  remem- 
ber the  satisfaction  it  gave  to  hear  her  communicate  her 


124  ^^f^  "-^  ^^'  ^'^'*''  Sahin. 

feelings  in  church  meeting.  Her  mind  ran  in  that  ten- 
der sympathetic  strain  which  never  failed  to  touch  the 
heart  of  those  who  heard.  The  girls  that  lived  at  our 
house  became  life  long  friends. 


11, 


te 


Some  Reflections  on  n.y  ninety-first  Birthday  (October  a3,«884). 

Not  one  in  many  thousands  live  to  my  great  age. 
But  few  of  those  who  do,  retain  their  mental  faculties  so 
as  to  enjoy  the  society  of  their  friends.  Some  loose 
their  eye-sight  and  grope  in  darkness;  others  become 
deaf  and  look  around  on  a  mute  and  silent  world  ;  others 
are  confined  to  beds  on  which  they  are  destined  to  die; 
others  forget  the  names  and  number  of  their  own  chil- 
dren, and  fain  would  believe  themselves  far  from  home 
and  among  strangers  in  a  strange  land.  ,    ^  ^,    , 

I  have  reason  to  be  thankful  to  my  Heavenly  Father 
that  my  eye-sight  is  so  good  that  with  suitable  glasses  I 
read  with  pleasure  several  hours  in  a  day.     My  hearing 
is  so  far  impaired  that  I  do  not  enjoy   social  conversa- 
tion as  much  as  I  formerly  did.     I  do  not  hear  the  con- 
versation of  the  family  not  directed  to  me  particularly. 
I  can  hear  all  public  speaking  by  selecting  a  seat  at  a 
proper  distance  from  the  speaker,  and   one  before  his 
face      More  depends  on  the  speakers  distinct  articula- 
tion than  on  the  loudness  of  his  voice  as  to  his   being 
heard      I  have  not  been  able  to  attend  the  public  wor- 
ship of  God  but  about  one  half  of  the  time  for  a  year 
past      I  am  obliged  to  have  some  one  aid  me  m  getting 
in  and  out  of  the  carriage,  and  to  drive  the  horses  ;  but 
but  when  I  am  in  I  can  ride  several  miles  with  plea- 
sure. 


m 


%. 


i^-,.;)-i,-s-fe''«''"- 


Gleanings. 


125 


d  ran  in  that  ten- 
iled  to  touch  the 
that  lived  at  our 


y  (October  13, 1884). 

0  my  great  age, 
mental  faculties  so 
ids.  Some  loose 
5;  others  become 
lent  world ;  others 
re  destined  to  die ; 
r  of  their  own  chil- 
i^es  far  from  home 

J. 

^  Heavenly  Father 
h  suitable  glasses  I 
day.     My  hearing 
,y   social  conversa- 
o  not  hear  the  con- 
to  me  particularly, 
electing  a  seat  at  a 
and   one  before  his 
rs  distinct  articula- 
»ice  as  to  his   being 
end  the  public  wor- 
the  time  for  a  year 
ne  aid  me  in  getting 
rive  the  horses  ;  but 
ral  miles  with  plea- 


As  I  was  advanced  in  life  before  I  came  to  Sycamore 
and  past  doing  any  business,  I  am  a  stranger  in  the 
state.  The  time  has  been  when  I  knew  men  from  every 
town  in  the  state  of  Vermont ;  but  here  I  do  not  know 
my  nearest  neighbor,  I  have  heard  it  remarked  by 
several  old  men  in  the  new  states  that  if  it  was  to  be 
done  again,  they  would  never  leave  the  place  where 
they  spent  the  active  part  of  their  life.  They  must 
form  a  new  character  among  young,  active,  business 
men,  under  great  disadvantages  ;  and  a  well  earned  re- 
putation is  of  little  avail  among  strangers.  But  most 
of  the  old  men  are  c'rawn  to  the  new  states  by  the  re- 
moval of  their  children  on  whom  they  are  dependent 
for  support  in  the  decline  of  life  ;  and  as  a  choice  be- 
tween two  evils.  But  it  is  a  happy  thought  that  they 
come  to  a  land  of  plenty  and  their  children  are  pros- 
pered and  become  wealthy. 

Since  the  close  of  the  past  year  my  flesh  and  strength 
have  been  gradually  failing,  and  the  cough  that  has  fol- 
lowed me  much  of  the  time  has  made  me  look  like  a 
walking  skeleton. 

I  have  cause  for  gratitude  that  my  temporal  circum- 
stances are  so  good.  I  have  no  more  concern  about  my 
living  than  a  boy  six  years  old.  I  am  cared  for  as  well 
as  any  one  could  desire :  and  I  have  confidence  that  it 
will  be  continued  as  long  as  I  shall  stand  in  need 
of  it. 

I  have  cause  for  gratitude  to  my  Heavenly  Father 
that  my  sight  is  such  that  I  readily  recognize  my 
friends. 

I  am  not  troubled  with  dizziness  or  painful  absent- 
mindedness.  And,  though  my  memory  is  more  at  fault 
than  formerly,  still  facts,  and  names,  and  events,  are 


,J^'#ir2 


IT 


i  )-- 

IS: 


I 

I 


,eaaay  caUed  »  ^nd :  so  .Hat  .  enjo.  .he  c<,nve,sa«o„ 

ber  of  friends,  and  I  hope  no  ^^^^^'^  j  ^^^,  „^^ 

What  is  before  me  in  the  year  upon  wh  ch  1  "^^^ 

mind.  I  hope  "^n^"  '  Heavenly  Father  .hat  .his 
''"'  h  U  be  :;fsf  Iho^  "^able.osay.  "Lord 
]Zt:l%ZT[  comLnd  .y  spiH."  »Hen  U.. 
hour  shall  come. 


Family  History. 

,.  ,    i^^X      when    Cardinal     Richeleu 

About    the  year    1628,     wnen    v.  France 

^  A  fU^  Huffenot  city  of   La  Rochelle,   trance, 

besieged  the  Hugenot  cuy  „    .     .^nt  kingdom 

r-  trd/"  Aro'nr.he  nunitrC  a  young  manof 
S:dt.er"cfnainedWmia.Sabi„  Whe.^^^ 
he  married    or  no.  we  have  no  means  of   knowing. 


lit 


i.tti'JiJii^'*''^'^^'^'" 


Gleanings. 


127 


the  conversation 
the  preaching  of 
that  I  can  steady 
ind   keep   up  so 
large  family  scat- 
friends  as  are  left 
so  kindly  remem- 
not  only  my  rela- 
■egational  friends, 
y   young  friends. 
Iso  a  limited  num- 

I  which  I  have  now 
prolonged,  I  shall 
s  pain  of  body  and 
jvhat  is  in  evitable. 
y  Father  that  this 
able  to  say,  "Lord 
y  spirit"  when  that 


Cardinal     Richeleu 
a  Rochelle,   France, 
Protestant  kingdom 
)testant  families    left 
peace   and  safety  to 
:  was  a  young  man  of 
iamSabin.    Whether 
means  of   knowing: 


but  only  that  he  stopped  for  a  time  in  Wales,  and  after- 
wards came  to  this  country.  He  was  settled  in  Reho- 
both,  Mass.,  in  1643.  The  records  of  the  town  show 
him  to  have  been  a  leading  spirit  in  church  and  school 
affairs.  He  had  nine  sons,  and  eleven  daughters.  He 
died  in   1687,  aged  6"/. 

His  son  Benjamin  was  born  May  3,  1646.  He  re- 
mained in  Rehoboth  until  1675  when  he  removed  to 
Roxbury,  Mass.  In  1686  he  was  one  of  thirteen  who 
settled  Woodstock ;  and  in  the  same  year  joined  with 
others  in  buying  a  tract  of  land  where  now  stands  the 
town  of  Pomfret.  And  in  1705  he  moved  to  the  latter 
place  where  he  died  1725,  aged  79  years. 

Of  his  eleven  children,  Timothy,  the  youngest,  was 
born  in  1694  and  lived  in  Pomfret  until  he  died  in 
1780,  aged  86. 

Of  his  nine  children  Ichabod  was  born  1726  and  died 
in  Pomfret  1783  aged  57.  The  children  of  Ichabod  Sa- 
bin  were  as  follows:  Mary,  born  1750  ;  Sarah,  1753  ;  Na- 
thanael,  1754;  Patience,  1756;  Parthenia,  1758;  Tim- 
othy, 1761  ;  Daniel,  1763  ;  Anna,  1765  ;  Benjamin,  Nov. 
21,  1767.  Of  these  w  have  information  showing  that 
Timothy  moved  to  near  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.  ;  Patience 
died  yong ;  Anna  married  Henry  Ballard  afterwards  of 
Georgia,  Vt.  ;  Benjamin  moved  to  Pownall,  Vt.;  and  in 
1790  or '91  to  Georgia,  Vt;  where  he  died  in  1796. 
This  Benjamin  Sabin  was  the  father  of  Rev.  A Ivah  Sabin. 

His  wife  was  Polly,  daughter  of  Robert  McMaster  of 
Williamstown,  Mass.,  a  man  of  Scotch  descent.  Of  the 
family  history  Rev.  Anson  Titus,  of  South  Weymouth, 
Mass. ,  who  has  carefully  searched  the  records  and  pub- 
lished his  results,  writes, ' '  The  Sabin  family  is  one  of 
most  excellent  history.     I  have  found  few  black  sheep 


,«,,**.«=*.■-'-'»««»--" 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


128 

.^.  .,^A  fhP  trrpater  oart  of  them  have  been  pro- 
rrnVrjs'i  .hfX/ch.  For  so  .any  who  we. 
X  "church  I  have  found  only  a  small  P-P""'- »' 
mtlsJs :  but  of  Deacon  Sabins  .here  are  a  host  wh,ch 

"Trrecr  on'ihe  mother.  "  "ollofg  U 

taken  from  notes  written  by  ^f  "^  ^'^^  " 'cMasters' 
have  known  but  little  of  my  Grandfather  McMasters 
r  i  ,  T  Viavp  heard  of  one  brother. 
'^""S^y  gLndmotrer's  maiden  name  was  Katie  Young^ 
She  was  of  Irish  descent  and  one  of  a  large  fam,  y^  She 
had  one  brother,  Ruben  Young,  who  was  a  we^*y  to- 
"  er  in  Williamstown,   Mass.-One  sister  ma  ried  a 

Weeks  Mrs  Hawley  Witters,  Mrs.  Betsey  Bla,r,  sec- 
Td t'lffof  Young'  Blair.  Another  0^  JX  g-^^ 
mother's  sister  married  Stephen  Davis.  The'r  children 
::*  M:ses  Stephen  and  Young,   PoUy,  «'  f  "^^^^  ; 

rick  Bliss  -,  wife  ol  Solomon  Bliss,  Patty,  Robert 

wtgMman'swife,Anna,FredrickNewton'sw,fe, 

^-rcHl'drof  Grandfather  McMaster    uncles^and 

Olive  Smedley  and  moved  to  Fairfax,  V  t. 

Aunt  Rebecca  married  Edmund  Lamb.     Their  child 
ren  were  Osmand,  Heman,   Horace,  Re°^^«''  ' 

^ife  of .Robinson,  Alantha,  wife  of  Sidney  Bliss 

Smantha.  Ho;ghton  Ballard's  wife,  Dana,  afterwards  a 
minister,  and  Nelson. 


■■*'„.4ac„5ia.,w.»*«»*ri 


i?«B«a*«w«' 


^-*.'«aM^«»=.*^««J*'*«*^»'^*^'******' 


.»i»*s»Sie!^^^iiS*fe>i-- 


s 


Gleanings. 


139 


I  have  been  pro- 
many  who  were 
ill  proportion  of 
ire  a  host  which 

the  following  is 
in  in  1883.  "I 
her  McMasters' 

IS  Katie  Young. 
Lrge  family.  She 
as  a  wealthy  far- 
iister   married  a 
arge  family,  sev- 
,  namely:  Fred- 
1  Reuben.     The 
Mrs.    Sherwick 
Betsey  Blair,  sec- 
•  of    my  grand- 
5.    Their  children 
Uy,  wife  of  Fred- 
is's,  Patty,  Robert 
ton's  wife, , 

aster,  uncles  and 
oily,  (my  mother,) 
cle  Moses  married 

Vt. 

imb.     Their  child- 
Rebecca,  > 

ife  of  Sidney  Bliss, 
Dana,  afterwards  a 


Youn},'  lived  on  his  father's  farm  and  died  there. 

Betsy  married  Abel  Johnson  and  came  to  live  in 
Georgia.  The  children  were  Olive,  Horace,  Asahel, 
David,  Adeline. 

Aunt  Katie  married  Noble  Clark  and  lived  in  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y. 

Uncle  John  came  to  live  with  my  widowed  mother 
in  the  spring  of  1807,  being  then  19  years  old.  He  re- 
mained with  us  un,til  181 1 ;  he  then  married  Diadama 
Knight,  who  lived  on  North  Hero,  an  island  in  Lake 
Champlain. 

I  state  these  facts  as  they  lie  floating  in  my  memory. 
They  may  be  of  little  account  to  any  but  the  relatives. 
I  know  that  even  my  own  children  have  but  the  slight- 
est knowledge  of  their  relationship  to  this  large  and 
complicated  family,  and  it  is  to  satisfy  any  who  may  be 
inquisitive  that  I  record  these  things ;  and  there  is  no 
other  one  living  who  can  state  them.  If  the  statement 
is  useless  it  has  cost  me  but  little. 


Some  Facts  in  Relation  to  My  Mother. 

My  mother  was  Polly  McMaster,  born  at  Williams- 
town,  Mass.,  June  18,1770,  married  Benjamin  Sabin  in 
Williamstown.Mass.,  Jan.,i792,being  then  22  years  old 
and  was  left  a  widow  four  years  afterward.  May  1 1,  1796. 
Her  husband,  my  father,  died  suddenly  with  bilious 
colic,  away  from  home.  He  went  with  some  of  his 
neighbors  to  catch  fish  in  Lake  Champlain,  but  before 
they  reached  the  lake  he  was  taken  sick  and  stopped  at 
Joshua  Smedley's  where  he  died  before  midnight,  and 
was  brought  home  the  next  day.     Mother  went  on  foot 


ffii©^«*i»' 


1 30  I-ip  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

to  him  through  the  woods  in  the  night  over  rough  paths 
and  pole  bridges.  1  was  then  two  years  and  a  half  old. 
and  my  brother  Daniel  six  months  old. 

I  think  the  farm  my  father  left  was  paid  for;  at  least 
I   never  heard  of  any  debt  afterwards.      Mother  was 
obliged  to  break  up  housekeeping,  and   went   to  live 
with   Uncle    Henry    Ballard,  who   married   my    Aunt 
Anna  Sabin.     While  she    was  living  there  she  becanrie 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Edmund  Town.'  Esq.,  of  Fa«rfield 
a  man  of  some  note.   He  was  the  first  town  clerk  of  that 
town,  and  was  for  many  years  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture   He  was  a  widower  with  two  sons.  Edmund  Brewer, 
and   John.     My  mother  was  married  to  him  November 
7    I7Q7.  and  went  to  Fairfield  to  live  on  the  farm  of  her 
husband.     In   the  year   i8oo  my   stepfather   sold   his 
farm  and  moved  on  to  my  mother's  in  Georgia.     1  he 
family  then  consisted  of  Grandmother  Lewis,  mother  of 
his  first  wife,  my  mother.   Edmund  Brewer,  and  John. 
Town.    Daniel    (my  brother),    myself,   and  the  baby. 
(Lvdia  Town,  afterwards  Aunt  Lydia  Holmes).     Aug. 
24.  I800.  my  stepfather  died  leaving  my  mother  a  wi- 
•  dow  the  second  time  with  the  addition  ofiourtothe 
family.  And  three  months  afterward  a  daughter  was  born 
who  was  named  Polly.     She  married  Cyrus  Hotchk.ss^ 
The  boy  Edmund  Brewer  went  to  live  with  Fredrick 
Bliss,  and    afterwards   to    Boston  where   he  married, 
raised  a  family  and  died. 

John  lived  with  Uncle  Henry  Ballard,  and  afterwa  ds 
learned  the  house-builders  trade  of  Samuel  Fairbanks. 
He  married  Anna  Jackson,  and  raised  four  boys: 
Brewer,  Franklin.  Byron,  and  Henry  ;  and  two  girls  : 
Mary  Ann,  and  Caroline. 


ver  rough  paths 
s  and  a  half  old, 

)aid  for ;  at  least 
5.      Mother  was 
id   went   to  live 
rried   my    Aunt 
ere  she  became 
;sq.,  of  Fairfield, 
3wn  clerk  of  that 
)f  the  Peace,  and 
the  state  legisla- 
Edmund  Brewer, 
o  him  November 
n  the  farm  of  her 
pfather   sold   his 
n  Georgia.     The 
•Lewis, mother  of 
rewer,  and  John, 
r,   and  the  baby, 

Holmes).  Aug. 
my  mother  a  wi- 
ion  of  four  to  the 
daughter  was  born 

Cyrus  Hotchkiss. 
ive  with  Fredrick 
here   he  married, 

rd,  and  afterwards 
iamuel  Fairbanks, 
aised  four  boys : 
ry  ;  and  two  girls  : 


Gleanings.  \  ^  ( 

The  farm  was  managed  at  first  by  Uncle  Ballard  ;  af- 
terwards by  uncle  Noble  Clark  who  married  mother's 
sister,  Katie.  But  the  management  was  not  satisfactory, 
and  mother  assumed  it  herself.  She  made  herself  ac- 
quainted with  the  value  of  all  the  articles  of  trade  or 
barter  which  a  farmer  of  that  time  was  likely  to  buy  or 
sell.  It  was  soon  found  that  her  judgment  was  as 
good  as  most  men's.  Some  of  the  prices  of  that  day 
I  remember.  A  cow  was  rented  for  three  years  to  be 
returned  with  a  heifer,  both  with  calves  by  their  sides ; 
and  the  renter  insured  them  against  all  accident  except 
lightning  or  the  fall  of  a  green  tree.  Or  a  cash  rent  was 
paid  of  four  dollars.  A  yoke  of  two  year  old  steers 
was  rented  to  be  returned  in  three  years  well  broke  for 
service.  Sheep  were  rented  for  one  year  for  one  pound 
of  wool  per  head.  At  these  rents  mother  usually  kept 
an  hundred  sheep,  and  twenty  cows,  and  occasionally  a 
yoke  of  steers. 

In  my  long  experience  I  have  been  acquainted  with 
many  widowed  families  and  have  seen    much  suffering 
in  consequence  of  ignorance  concerning  the  value  of  pro- 
perty and  the  ways  of  business.     Some  men  do  not  let 
their  wives  know  any  thing  about  their  business  ;  and  if 
they  are  left  widows  they  are  mere  children  with  a  fam- 
ily to  support  and  debts  to  pay  with  no  help  from  any 
one.    The  shop  is  locked  up,  the  business  is  closed  and 
she,  as   if  blindfolded,  is  left  to  do  double  duty.     The 
better  way  is  to  do  things  by  mutual  consultation.     In 
some  cases  the  wife  will  be  as  good  a  financier  as  the 
husband. 

Mother  used  to  spin  wool  and  flax.  She  bought  a 
patent  wheel  with  two  spindles  and  two  distaffs,  and 
could  With  that  spin  nearly  two  day's  work  in  one.    But 


rlrif 


':  1! 


t 


i'O 


Mm 


•^i^*«%i*^^(»i!^l^fefe^)^.i£«^J^j^\^^^ 


•^'a(ii,i,V-"".^.>^ 


it  squired  so  much  strength  to  turn  it  that  she  broke 
Z:  in  health  under  the  strain  an  -  -^^  /;,  ° 
-^  T  oJ'lZ  Z  aC;  hadtr  tnsoiaUon  . 

Te^'dder  dellted  to  mlfe  her  happy  and  cheerfui. 
rwf  ::x"S  that  we  *ouM  have  .he  adva.^^^^^^^ 
education  ;  but  her  means  were  ''"-''='^' ""°  *t„  ^^^e 
tunities  at  home  were  not  as  good  -  ^J  "^  ■^" ,,  „,, 

TT\-  '■■  and^  /..t'sirmS  ■'""A.thotne 
Arithmetic,  and  J^'^^^J'.  ._  .u^  ^ould  solve 
had  never  studied  tb.se  books  before  ^^^  ^°"J^ 

she  would   use  as  little  wood  as  P-f"     "  *= 
h^u^hold  affairs,  going  without  fire  even  for  th.s  pur 

''Tn  .82^   the  25th  of  May,  Mrs.  Town  married  Solo- 
J:  C:    Of  tL  Father  Sabin  u.d  to  say   ha    as 

He  was  at  '"-..^^X^ra^d  this  enabled 

rrroTt°o  hsgr  ndchlldrenthat  he  married  their 
pragrT^drothen^ndmother  and  their  mo*^^ 

*^"r.'t2M?s^:tr°rof^«ton\l. 

""r  td  SsTears     emembeJed  by  all  as  a  woman  of 
;t         til  ,' S.nt,  thoughtful,  fitted  in  mind  and 


Gleanings. 


'33 


:  that  she  broke 
ras  unable  to  do 
rte  afterwards  re- 
fer  consolation  : 
ith  her  and  never 
e  obedient,  and 
,py  and  cheerful, 
the  advantages  of 
i,  and  the  oppor- 
hey  are  in  these 
ing  period  it  was 
lielp  us  solve  the 
ium,"    "Adam's 
"     Although  she 
she  would  solve 
ident.     With  her 
our  class,  and  our 
get  in  the  schools 
as  much  as  prac- 

detained  to  cut 
i  possible    in  the 
even  for  this  pur- 
own  married  Solo- 
sed  to  say  that  as 
vas  called  upon  to 
id :  and  this  enabled 
it  he  married  their 
I  their  mother,  and 
Sept.  5.  i834-  Mrs. 
jme  of  her  son  Al- 
f  all  as  a  woman  of 

fitted  in  mind  and 


heart  to  be  intrusted  with  the  training  of  sons  called  of 
God  to  be  preachers  of  his  word. 


Boyish  Military  Tastes. 

• 

The  annual  June  training,  held  on  first  Tuesday  in 
June,  was  a  kind  of  State  institution  in  Vermont  from 
its  organization  until  after  the  war  of  1812.  The  mi- 
litary consisted  of  the  militia  (or  flood  wood  compa- 
nies as  they  were  called) ;  light  infantry,  composed  of 
volunteers  enlisted  from  the  militia;  the  horse  troop; 
and  the  artillery  companies.  These  all  had  to  appear  on 
the  notable  first  day  of  June  with  musket,  cartridge 
box,  priming  wire,  and  two  flints.  But  a  uniform  dress 
was  not  required  of  the  militia.  The  light  infantry  had 
a  uniform.  The  artillery  had  a  cannon  found  by  the 
state,  and  the  artillery  man  had  a  sword  and  uniform. 
Besides  the  June  training  the  Brigadier  General  called 
out  the  regiment  in  the  fall  of  each  year  for  general 
training. 

Not  many  years  ago  a  man  who  was  a  young  major 
at  the  time  related  to  me  an  ancedote  that  showed  that 
the  officers  were  not  always  the  most  perfect  instructors 
in  the  tactics.  He  said  that  he  went  to  the  General 
on  muster  day  and  asked  for  instructions  about  forming 
the  regiment  and  the  various  positions  of  the  troop, 
the  artillery,  the  light  infantry,  and  the  militia.  The 
old  General  who  had  been  Major  and  Colonel  and 
Brigadier  General  and  Inspecting  Major  for  perhaps 
thirty  years,  assuming  a  pompous  voice  said,  "Major 
—mount  your  horse— draw  your  sword — cut  around— 
and  make  a  great  fuss— that  is  all  there  is  of  it."    This 


'A 


'^^i 


Sisi-^  '■■^3^S^^^iaii^t«££gi&j2>k*  jWi-.*«i^  -^, 


-  'mmifi^.,m^jrJ<a:-Si'h^ii^s^ 


mightbeanexceptical  cas<,  "">  it  P'obably  was  no. 
The  only  one.  Some  use   di«retion  in  coneeahng  .her 

""Ce  were  many  strange  oec»rrences.    Bu,  notwlth- 

.^re^f  these  the  June  trainings  and  general  mus- 

fe  r:r?Jna  or  hoUaay  which  -'VJ^— "^ 

'""i„°of  ^fboyfto  form  themselves  into  military 
pos,t,on  of  f' boys  ^^^^  ^^  ^^  _^.„^ 

companies.     At  least  it  n  company  of  about 

ner  with  drag      P  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^   ^^^  ^       ^e- 

cannon.     t-acn  ooy  .i-  m  1  tia 

board  Bonaparte  hat  with  a  feather.     When  tn 

n»^  onfr  1  called  out,  my  company  also,      wc 
were  called  out  1  caiiea  o     .  unanimous 

chose  officers  in  a  legal  manner.     1  haa  tne 

-ra^aUthTrot^.^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

stood  it  as  well  as  any  man  .     the   town^  of  ^^^  _^g  ^^ 
When»e«.me  out  on  t«m mg      y^^^  ^^^^   ^^^   ^^^^ 

attention  and  caused  m  ^^^^  „„^  ,hat 

companies  of  men.  It  was  suggest  , 
„e  ought  to  have  a  new  gun  --«-  ^J,  t.'^  „m 
""■'"'tu  afyolraTd"  orhXTu'gh  to  pay  for 
Tw  lar  iL  Ai^tl  -">=  "-  save  me  the  lower 
L^  of  rX  "Queen's  arm,"  which  made  a  very 
gtd  gun      IdriHed  the  boys  until  they  were  quite  ex- 


sbably  was  not 
oncealing  their 

s.    But  notwith- 
id  general  mus- 
ery  community 
n  later  years  the 
titute  for  them, 
spirit  was  culti- 
vident  from  dis- 
res  into  military 
ect  on  my  mind, 
ompany  of  about 
1  the  rudest  man- 
an  old  gun  for  a 
ord,   and  a  paste- 
When  the  militia 
npany  also.     We 
lad  the  unanimous 

tactics  containing 
[  practiced  behind 
ow  think,  I  under- 
town  of  Georgia, 
we  attracted  more 
ks  than   the   three 
d  by  some  one  that 
e.     So  1  started  a 
presented  it  to  old 
d  enough  to  pay  for 
gave  me  the  lower 
which  made  a  very 
they  were  quite  ex- 


Gteantngs. 


'35 


pert  in  the  exercises.  In  i8n  I  became  old  enough 
to  do  military  duty,  and  enlisted  in  Captain  Solomon 
Bliss'  Light  Infantry  Company. 

The  first  day  we  were  called  out  after  I  enlisted,  I 
was  chosen  fourth  corporal  and  by  the  captain  was 
called  out  as  a  "Fugleman,"  that  is  I  stood  in  the 
front  of  the  company  with  my  back  towards 
them,  and  all  were  to  perform  the  exercise  as  I  did. 
I  was  afterward  appointed  Sergeant,  then  success- 
ively Ensign  and  Captain.  I  held  the  latter  office  un- 
til I  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  that  ended  my  little 
militaty  career. 


An  Old  Subscription. 

I  send  you  a  copy  of  subscriptions  circulated  in  the 
year  1848  for  my  support  as  a  specimen  of  some  others; 
and  to  show  who  were  the  men  that  then  composed 
the  society  and  about  what  they  would  pay.  They  are 
nearly  all  dead  now.  This  is  as  large  a  sum  as  was 
ever  found  on  any  subcription.     It  reads  as  follows  : 

We,  the  subscribers,  wishing  to  obtain  the  service 
of  Elder  A.  Sabin  as  preacher  of  the  gospel  statedly  at 
the  Baptist  meeting  house  on  the  Sabbath,  do  severally 
promise  to  pay  annually  the  sums  annexed  to  our 
names : 

Provided,  that  any  subscriber  may  alter  his  sub- 
scription at  the  close  of  the  year  by  paying  arrearages. 

Georgia,  February  10,  1848. 

NAMES.  SUM. 

Cyrus  Hotchkiss |[20  00 

John  Bowker 20  00 

H.  H.   Hale 20  00 


f^\?S 


■■fe*--fa^,^fa,W.ataaaas-.^e^g,^i^&,^S'-^-,-fe^= 


/^■-Ta«\-^;,>4r.-W&SRfei=i;,.|i^',7;y^.;.,, 


,36  Life  of  Rn:  Alvah  Sabin. 

SUM. 
NAMES. 

Alburn   Mcars '^  oo 

Asaph  Wood 5  oo 

EbenezerWood '^  °0 

Alfred  Ladd >5  oo 

Amos  Ives \ 

G.   H.   Roice 5  oo 

Wm.   A.  Blake •• 5  oo 

George  W.  Blake 5  oo 

Jonathan    Blake \  °° 

Joseph   Bowker ^  oo 

Jonathan    Hews ^  oo 

Jedediah  Chritchet 200 

.  Enoch  White ]  °° 

Valmore    Story »  °° 

Emily  M.  Bowker 'O  00 

B.  L.  Dinsmore '  °° 

Charles  B.  Wilson '  00 

Daniel    Dinsmore 2  00 

Martin  Curtis \  °° 

Roswell   Goodwin 5  00 

Charles  Williams 2  00 

F.  and  B.  Town 20  co 

Reuben  B.  Ayres 00 

Bursis  Hill ■  °° 

James  B    Dunton 2  ou 

Stephen  Bliss I  "O 

Hawley  Witters 200 

Thomas  Pierce 2  00 

A.   M.  Martin '  °° 

Wm.  K.  Warner 2  00 

Charles  I.  Ladd -  °° 

Horace  Witters «  °° 

.      SolomonBliss '  °° 

Abel   Bliss ;  ^ 

Jefferson  Fletcher '   00 

Samuel    Barber 2  00 

James  Godfrey  4  00 

Elijah  Davis 5  00 


SUM. 

10  oo 
5  oo 

lo  oo 

15  00 
5  00 
5  00 
5  00 
5  00 
5  00 
2  00 
2  00 
2  00 
2  00 
1  00 
10  00 
I  00 

1  00 

2  00 
.     3  00 

5  00 
2  00 
.   20  CO 
.     I  00 
.     I  00 
.     2  00 
,.     2  00 
..     2  00 
,.     2  00 
,.     I  00 
..     2  00 
..     c  00 
..      8  00 
..      5  00 

..       "GO 

I  00 

..       2    00 

..     4  00 
..     5  00 


(ileamngs.  |j» 

NAMKS.  SUM. 

Samuel  Fargo i  qq 

Elisha  Hale 1  00 

David  Goodrich 2  00 

Henry  Bushnell |  00 

Moses   VVightman 3  00 

Samuel  Carr 5  00 

Henry  G.  tJoodrich 2  00 

Stephen  Holmes 5  00 

Douglass  K.  Holmes 3  00 

Russel  S.  Hawkins 2  00 

M.    H.  Torrey 2  00 

Deni.son  Waller 10  00 

M.  D.  Waller .  00 

John    Hurlburt 200 

Stillman  Clark 1000 

Betsy  Bliss ,  q^ 

Rebecca  Bliss i  qo 

B.  F.  Sabin 2  00 

Denis  Gilmore 200 

E.  L.  Ladd 2  00 

Leonard  Wheeler '\  00 

C.  H,  Morrill ,  00 

I-   W.  Burt ■;      ,00 

This  was  the  last  subscription  gotten  up  for  my  sup- 
port. I  think  it  amounted  to  about  three  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  for  a  year  or  two  was  punctually  paid.  But 
soon  some  moved  away,  some  died,  some  forgot  the 
dollar  or  two  they  had  signed.  And  I  could  not  tell 
how  much  I  was  to  expect.  Then  in  1852  I  was  ap 
pointed  to  Congress,  and  after  that  I  do  not  recollect 
that  any  subscription  was  ever  circulated.  After  1857 
the  people  gave  me  several  donation  visits  and  remem- 
bered me  at  their  Christmas  festival  and  drew  my  fire 
wood  to  the  door.  and.  most  of  the  older  members  of 
the  church  and  society  paid  what  they  had  long  been  in 
the  habit  of  paying^annually. 


II 


I' 


iB^.-a 


-^.^•-t^i±?ji:t,Sf.^  ^ 


138 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

On  his  Entrance  to  Congress. 


In  December.  .853.  I   went  to  Washtngton  for  the 
first  time.     I  felt  as  green  as  a  boy.     I  ^^d  ^^^  ^^^^ 
experience  in  the  state  legislature  ;  but  th.s   was   aU 
new      m  a  financial  view  it  was  an  epoch  m  my  affa.rs 
Thad  all  my  life  labored  for  a  sum  that  barely  paui  my 
expenses.     I  had  always  felt  like  a  poor  man  ;  and  ye 
:Tbeen  obliged  to  keep  up  as  good  an  appearance  as 
I  could  so  as  not  to  shame  my  friends.     But  now  I  had 
he  prospects  of  accumulating  --^h-g/^^V^^^^^Hh 
of  my  family,  and  the  payment  of  my  debts,  and  the 
money  I  borrowed  to  go  to  Washington. 

In  1821  I  had  been  on  the  road  from  Philadelphia  to 
Georgia,  and  had  travelled  from  Albany  to  Wh.teha U 
on  foot,  because  I  had  not  money  to  P^/^'-  '"y  P^ 
sace   w  th  my  feet  so  galled  that  I  crippled  like  an  old 
^ndered  hoarse,  and  walked  in  constant  pa.n.     Now 
I   received   eighty   cents   per   ^^^'^   ''''^'''U:'Z^ 
ment  to   pay  my  expenses  amounting  to  ^505  ,  ^nd 
$8.00  a  day  for  service  was  a  new  --P--"";^;^"";; 
and  I  confess  that  I  lost  several  hours  of  sleepjor  .ev 
eral  nights  under  the    excitement  caused  by  this  new 
state  of  my  affairs. 

I  soon  found  myself  able  to  pay  all  my  d^b  ^.  ^nd  J 
did  so  as  fast  as  I  could.     It  was  gratifying    o  me  to  be 
able  also  to  help  some  of  my  friends  to  small  sums,  and 
to  betwe  to  contribute  to  several  charitable  a,.d  benev- 
olen    nstitutions.     I  can  now  say  that  ^-^  ^^at  f^^^^^^^^ 
this  I  have  kept  myself  clear  from  personal  debts   bu 
T  have  in  a  few  cases  been  holden  for  others.     I  have  for 
I  have  in  a  lew  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^ 

twenty  years  past  been   aoie  w   f         j 
pocket  and  pay  every  dollar  I  owed. 


■jleamngs. 


139 


ihington  for  the 
had  had  some 
at  this   was   all 
ch  in  my  affairs. 
t  barely  paid  my 
r  man  ;  and  yet 
m  appearance  as 
But  now  I  had 
ig  for  the  benefit 
r  debts,  and  the 
on. 

n  Philadelphia  to 
any  to  Whitehall 
pay  for  my  pas- 
ppled  like  an  old 
5tant  pain.     Now 
from  the   govern- 
ng  to  %%o%  ;    and 
cperience  for  me  ; 
s  of  sleep  for  ?ev- 
Lused  by  this  new 

11  my  debts,  and  I 
tifying  to  me  to  be 

to  small  sums,  and 
aritable  and  benev- 
at  from  that  day  to 
personal  debts,  but 

others.  I  have  for 
)ut  my  hand  in  my 


I  confess  that  I  ha.  not  always  been  discreet  in  dis- 
burseraent  of  moneys  I  have  received.  But  I  was 
sixty  years  old  before  I  had  a  chance  to  make  an  ex- 
periment. I  did  not  spend  it  in  drinking,  nor  smok- 
ing, nor  gambling,  nor  speculating,  nor  in  dress,  nor 
fine  carriages,  nor  in  luxuries. 


Concerning  His  Leaving  Georgia. 

My  reason  for  terminating  my  long  pastorate  in  the 
Baptist  church  at  Georgia  is  this  : 

My  age  was  one  at  which  in  almost  every  case  pru- 
dent men  have  long  before  retired.  I  did  not  leave 
because  of  any  opposition  to  myself  in  the  church  or 
society,  or  in  the  town.  I  have  never  had  any  diffi- 
culty with  any  one,  and  when  I  left  town  I  do  not  know 
as  there  was  a  person  in  town  who  desired  it.  The 
Congregational  Church  had  treated  me  as  kindly  as  I 
could  desire;  the  Methodists  paid  me  all  the  respect 
that  I  deserved ;  my  intimacy  with  the  young  people 
was  continued  to  the  last,  and  was  very  gratifying  to 
my  aged  heart. 

In  many  instances  when  the  young  people  have  got- 
ten together  for  a  social  visit  they  have  sent  a  team  and 
invited  me  to  attend  with  them  as  if  I  was  a  kind  of 
compliment  to  their  social  meetings.  And  often  would 
make  a  little  contribution,  as  if  to  pay  me  for  my 
trouble  of  attending,  when  it  was  as  gratifying  to  me 
as  it  was  to  them. 


J I 


\  ? 


*\?  - 


140 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 
Relation  to  the  New  Hampton  Institution. 


The  following  statement  of  views  on  the  removal 
of  the  New  Hampton  Institution  to  Fairfax,  Vt.,  was 
found  among  his  papers. 

My  opinion    of   the    whole    matter    is   about    this: 
In  the  first  place  it  was  a  great  mistake  to  attempt  the 
removal.     I  think  all  similar  attempts  have  been   fail- 
ures     The  effort  to  remove  the  Hamilton  Seminary  to 
Rochester  failed  ;  the  removal  of  the  Theological  Insti- 
tution from  Philadelphia  to  Washington   faikd;  the  at- 
tempt to  consolidate  Burlington  and   Middlebury  Col- 
leges did  not   succeed,  for  neither  would  consent  to  a 
removal.     It  would  have  been  much    better   to  start 
anew      It  is  doubtful  whether  the  title  to  the  rea  estate 
is  not   alv.ays  forfeited  by  the  removal  of  an  Institu- 
tion. 

Second  :  The  people  of  the  vicinity  were  bitterly  op- 
posed to  the  removal.  The  books  were  spirited  away 
by  hundreds;  but  a  sn-.all  part  of  the  apparatus  was 
ever  brought  to  Fairfax;  and  not  a  foot  of  the  real  es- 
tate  was  secured. 

Third:  Another  Institution  started  in  the  same 
place  managed  by  the  Free-WiU  Baptists  and  was  sus^ 
Gained  by  the  same  community  which  had  supported 
the  first  school. 

Fourth:  It  was  a  mistake  to  appoint  the  teachers 
and  bring  them  to  Fairfax,  and  begin  the  school  before 
the  house  was  built. 

Fifth  :  It  was  not  good  policy  to  borrow  money  of 
the  Endowment  Fund  to  build  or  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  school. 


Gleaning 


141 


tution. 

n  the  removal 
irfax,  Vt.,  was 

is   about    this: 
to  attempt  the 
lave  been   fail- 
on  Seminary  to 
leological  Insti- 
failed ;  the  at- 
[iddlebury  Col- 
Id  consent  to  a 
better   to  start 
o  the  real  estate 
il  of  an  Institu- 

Arere  bitterly  op- 
re  spirited  away 
:  apparatus  was 
t  of  the  real  es- 

d  in  the  same 
lists,  and  wassus- 
^1  had  supported 

3int  the  teachers 
the  school  before 

borrow  money  of 
ifray  the  expenses 


Sixth  :  The  Institution  should  not  have  been  started 
without  at  least  six  or  eight  thousand  dollars  on  hand 
to  meet  its  immediate  wants,  l/hc  Board  had  not  a 
dollar,  nor  the  promise  of  a  dollar  to  meet  the  bills 
which  must  be  paid  immediately.  They  sent  out  agents 
to  solicit  aid,  but  those  who  must  give  were  the  very  ones 
who  had  just  subscribed  to  the  Endowment  Fund.  But 
little  could  therefore  be  obtained.  The  only  alternative 
was  to  borrow  money ;  and  the  Board  borrowed  it. 
Some  members  paid  a  hundred  dollars  a  year,  and 
others  less  amounts  ;  and  still  the  debt  pressed  heavily. 
Finally  the  disaffected  members  withdrew  their  counsel 
and  aid.  The  acting  Board  resigned,  and  by  common 
consent  the  disaffected  members  were  elected  to  conduct 
the  school  in  a  better  way  if  they  could.  At  this  time 
Dr.  Upham  was  at  the  head  of  the  school. 

In  the  transfer  of  the  management  to  the  new  Board 
my  name  was  carried  over  at  their  request ;  and  I  con- 
tinued with  them  until  Dr.  Upham  resigned  his  posi- 
tion. 

The  new  Board  pursued  the  same  policy  in  paying 
debts  as  was  pursued  by  the  old  one ;  and  I  had  no  need 
to  change  my  views.  I  acted  cheerfully  in  both  Boards 
and  made  the  best  of  the  plans  adopted  that  I  could. 
I  heartily  believed  in  the  honest  intention  of  all.  But 
the  funds  were  never  sufficient  to  warrant  the  begin- 
ning of  a  school  of  so  great  dimensions. 

I  think  the  annual  subscription  to  the  general  fund 
was  estimated  at  too  high  a  figure.  It  was  subscribed  in 
small  amounts  by  men  in  moderate  circumstances  and 
scattered  over  a  great  territory.  Many  were  slow  in 
paying ;  some  died  and  the  claim  was  not  presented  to 
the  Commissioners  who  settled  the  estates  ;  some  moved 


i;l 


,^2  Life  of  Rei'.  Alvah  Sabin. 

to  the  far  west ;  some  became  disaffected  and  did  not 
mean  to  pay.  I  think  that  all  such  subscriptions  are 
worth  not  more  than  fifty  cents  on  a  dollar.  An  effort 
>vas  made  to  have  the  subscribers  give  notes  payable  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the  school  with  annual  interest.  This 
partially  succeeded. 

The  Board  had  to  appoint  a  general  agent  to  collect 
the  interest  and  pay  the  debts  ;  and  this  cost  five  or  s.x 
hundred  dollars  a  year  which  must  be  paid  punctually. 
I  can  say  for  my  part  that  I  have  suffered  as  much  by 
our  inability  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  school,  as  I  should 
in  going  through  bankruptcy  five  times. 

I  travelled  hundreds  of  miles  by  night  and  day, 
through  mud,  and  snow,  and  heat,  and  cold,  to  attend 
the  meetings  of  the  Board,  and  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee ;  for  which  I  never  received  a  cent  a  compensa- 

*'°But  while  the  pecuniary  interests  of  the  Institution 
were  disastrous  and  to  me  as  to  all  painful,  I  was 
cheered  by  the  character  of  the  school.  It  was  most 
satisfactory.  It  was  a  blessed  thing  for  the  community, 
and  the  churches,  and  individuals.  If  the  school  was  a 
failure  from  a  pecuniary  point  of  view,  nevertheless  the 
blessing  counterbalances  the  loss  which  any  individuals 
may  have  sustained. 


A  Figure,  Showing  the   Folly  of    Criticizing   the    Purposes    of 

God. 

The  objection  is.  if  God  foreknows  and  predetermines 
what  He  will  do,   we  are  not  free  agents  and  are  not  ac- 


UL- 


d  and  dir'  not 
jscriptions  are 
lar.  An  effort 
otes  payable  to 
interest.     This 

agent  to  collect 
;  cost  five  or  six 
)aid  punctually, 
red  as  much  by 
lool,  as  I  should 

light   and   day, 

cold,  to  attend 

Executive  Com- 

ent  a  compensa- 

f  the  Institution 
painful,   I  was 

ol.  It  was  most 
the  community, 

the  school  was  a 
nevertheless  the 

1  any  individuals 


g   the    Purposes    of 

nd  predetermines 
its  and  are  not  ac- 


Gleanings. 


»43 


countable  for  our  conduct.  The  fact  is  none  but  God 
foreknows  and  none  but  God  foreordains.  As  we  have 
not  the  faculty  to  foresee,  we  can  not  see  how  it  can  com- 
port with  our  free  agency,  nor  is  it  possible  to  explain 
this  to  us  in  the  absence  of  this  faculty  of  foreknowl- 
edge. 

To   illustrate :     Suppose   two  men  were   both  born 
blind,  but  pos.sessed  of  all  the  other  faculties  common 
to   mankind,    as  hearing,     feeling,    tasting,    smelling. 
They  hear  a  great  deal  about  the    beauty    of  the    rain- 
bow, and  of  the  flowers  and  that  there  are  seven  dis- 
tinct colors  in   the  rainbow ;  and  that  when  all  these 
are  blendet  it  makes  a  perfect  white;  and  that  the  ab- 
sence of  all   these  is  a  perfect  black.     They  feel  the 
warmth    of  the  sun;  they    hear    others    speak  of    its 
brightness;    they   hear  of  the    beauty    of  the    starry 
heavens.     Now  suppose  these  two  men  were  compar- 
ing their  views  as  to  what  was  a  scarlet   color.     That 
there  was  such  a  thing  as  color  they  could  not  doubt, 
for  thousands  testify  to  the  fact.     The  first  should  give 
it  as  his  opinion  that  a  scarlet  color  resembles  the  .sound 
of  a  trumpet,  the  other  should  think  it  resembles  the 
sound  of  a  bass  drum.     Then  they  refer  the  question 
to  a   man   who  has   the   sense   of  sight.     He  says  to 
them,  "You   are    both   as   wrong   as    you    can    be." 
"Well,"  they  say,   "can    you    not    set    us    right?" 
"No,    I  can  not   set  you  right.  "      They  might  say, 
"Have  we  not  common  sense  to  understand  what  is 
said  to  us?"     "You   have  common  sense,   all  but  the 
sense  of  seeing,  and  that  you  have  not;  and   can  have 
•no  conception  of  colors.     And  I  can  no  more  tell  you 
what  color  is  than  you  can  tell  a  deaf  mute  what  sound 
is." 


?|- 


u 


it. 


^  "1 

Y'  ,1-.* 


'J?, 


^'*-^'»y'^it.:;-^ 


-^:^%--JXje^.i,  Lii^.  f 


r' 


144  Lt/e  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabtn. 

The  lower  orders  of  animals  have  instincts  that  in 
the  main  dictate  them  as  if  they  had  the  faculty  of 
reasoning.  But  still  we  know  they  can  not  compare 
one  thing  with  another;  they  never  make  a  bargam  with 
each  other,  and  have  no  idea  of  the  comparative  value 

of  things. 

The  bird  in  building  her  nest  may  seem  to  use  reason 
in  its  construction;  but  the  fact  is  not  so;  she  makes 
the  first  just  as  well  as  she  does  the  last ;  she  does  not 
improve  by  experience,  nor  by  the  example  of  others, 
and  no  human  being  can  teach  her. 

The  beaver  has  a  very  strong  and  definite  instinct  as 
seen  in  his  selecting  the  place  on  the  stream  to  build 
his  dam,  and  in  his  mode  of  constructing  it   he  put.  it 
at  the  lower  extremity  of  a  low,  fiat  plat  of  land,  and 
where  the  stream  is  narrow.     Then  gnaws  down  small 
trees   draws  them  to  the  place  selected,  and  puts  them 
in  with   the   buts   up  the  stream,   and  on  these  he  de- 
posits leaves  and  mud  and  muck  and  makes  a  dam  that 
will  be  strengthened  by  the  deposits  of  the  stream  and 
will  stand  for  a  hundred  years.     The  rules  o    their  cor- 
poration  are  varied  and   complete   as   a   railroad   cor- 
poration.    Still  all  this  perfect  planning  and  execution 
and  co-operation   was   never   taught   them,    and  they 
never  learned  it  any  more  than  a  tree  was  taught  how 
to  crow  or  an  infant  how  to  suck. 

This  innumerable  class  of  beings  have  not  the  faculty 
of  reasoning,  and  we  can  not  reason  with  them,  nor 
can  we  tell  them  what  reasoning  faculties  are  any  more 
than  we  can  tell  a  blind  man  what  colors  are.  or  a  deaf 
man  what  sounds  are.  If  we  had  the  power  to  fore-  ■ 
know  then  we  could  criticize  the  providence  of  the 
omniscient  God  ;  but  not  till  ten. 


stincts  thdt  in 
the  faculty  of 
1  not  compare 
a  bargain  with 
parative  value 

1  to  use  reason 
so;  she  makes 

;  she  does  not 
uple  of  others,^ 

inite  instinct  as 
;tream  to  build 
,g  it,  he  put .  it 
at  of  land,  and 
iws  down  small 
,  and  puts  them 
on  these  he  de- 
ikes  a  dam  that 

the  stream  and 
lies  of  their  cor- 

a  railroad  cor- 
g  and  execution 
them,  and  they 
was  taught  how 

2  not  the  faculty 
with  them,  nor 

ies  are  any  more 
irs  are,  or  a  deaf 
;    power  to  fore- ' 
evidence   of   the 


Gleanings. 
Relations  with  General  O.  E.  Babcock. 


H5 


When  Mr.  Sabin  was  in  Congress,  it  was  his  pri- 
vilege to  secure  the  appointment  of  O.  E.  Babcork-  as 
cadet  in  West  Point.  In  this  young  man  he  always 
maintained  a  lively  interest.  In  later  years  an  intimate 
acquaintance  and  correspondence  sprang  up  which 
lasted  until  death. 

After  Mr.  Babcock  came  to  positions  of  good  pay, 
he  uniformly  sent  a  Christmas  gift  varying  from  550  to 
^100,  and  after  the  General's  death  Mrs.  Babcock  con- 
tinued the  remembrance,  sending  one  but  a  month  be- 
fore the  death  of  Mr.  Sabin. 

When  the   General's   children  became  old  enough 
they  were  taught  to  love  and  venerate  the    old   time 
friend  of  their   father.      They  wrote  letters  and   sent 
presents  in  their  own  name.     When   the  family  were 
in  Chicago,  Mr.  Sabin  visited  them.     He  wrote  their 
names  in  the  family  record  of  his  Bible,  and   delighted 
to  call  them  his  grandchildren.     He  studied  carefully 
the  reports  of  light  house  work,  which   the    General 
kindly  sent  him,  and  no  one  delighted  more  in  the  ac- 
curacy of  his  reports,  and  their  full  acceptance   by   the 
department  than  did  this  adopted  father  of  his.   During 
the  years  of  political  calumny,  no  heart  was  hurt  more 
by  the  charges,  and   insinuations  against  the   General 
than  Father  Sabin's.     We  give  an  account  of  a  visit  to 
the  General  in  Washington  in  1873  : 

•'Previous  to  the  meeting  at  the  Naval  school  I  went 
to  Washington,  and  put  up  at  Willard's.  The  next 
morning  I  went  to  the  White  House  and  inquired  for 
General  Babcock,  but  found  that  he  and  the   President 


I', 

i 

Mi 
M 

J' 


SI 


.P^f, 


A 


I 


g  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

were  at  Springfield.  Mass.,  but  would  be  at  home  the 

"'^athen  went  to  the  meeting-house  built  by  Amos 
Kendl  1  for  he  Baptist  church.  N.  W.  of  the  Patent 
Office   clUchur^  I  found   ^^    P-^;-  -^^^^ 

study  and  had  a  pleasant  interview  with   h.m     The 
next  morning  I  went  to  the  Treasury  and  found  Stephen 
A  MUkLwith  whom  I  boarded  when  in  Congress,  and 
treafaewell  visit  to   him   and    his  excellent  w.f. 
Then  I  went  again  to  see  General  Babcock.  Gomg  mo 
he  office  I  found  him  engaged.     So  I  -t  down  unu 
he  was  at  liberty.  He  seemed  g-atly  -rpnsed^^^^^^^  h 
did  not  recognize  me  at  first  glance  and  attend  to  me  at 
once      He  said  he  was  looking  for  an  older  man.     He 
sent  for  the  President  and  introduced  me  as  a  spec.a 
Hend  of  his.     Before  I  left  Willard's  that  mormng  I 
ound  It  the  General  had  been  there  and  pa.d   my 
WU  of  Jiio.oo.  and  now  he  engaged  a  carnage  and  took 
1  t«  his  house  where  I  met  his  w.fe  and  son  agam^ 

.q  remained  his  guest  while  I  was  m  the  city  He 
drove  m^  through  the  streets  which  he  had  leveled  as 
SreetCommissLer.  and  through  the  puWic  places  of 
fnterest.  On  Sunday  we  attended  Dr.  Parker's  church 
and  on  Monday  we  parted  for  the  last  t.me  probably. 

rWe  think  that  this  was  written  soon  after  the  event 
JdThat  he  visited  the  General  after  tj-  m  O-a^^ 
The  correspondence  became  more  and  more  familiar 
Ifter  that,  and  the  growth  of  the  children  strengthened 
the  ties  of  friendship.— Ed.] 


le  at  home  the 

built  by  Amos 
.  of  the  Patent 
.   Parker  in  the 
vith   him.    The 
d  found  Stephen 
in  Congress,  and 
s  excellent  wife. 
;ock.   Going  into 
I  sat  down  until 
surprised  that  he 
[  attend  to  me  at 
older  man.     He 
me  as  a  special 
I  that  morning  I 
re  and  paid   my 
carriage  and  took 
:  and  son  again, 
in  the  city.     He 
he  had  leveled  as 
le  public  places  of 
ir.  Parker's  church 
Lst  time  probably." 

)on  after  the  event 
r  this  in  Chicago, 
and  more  familiar 
ildren  strengthened 


The  Gates  Affair.  i^^y 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE   GATES   AFFAIR. 

It  would  be  pleasantcr  for  us  to  pass  over  the  event 
of  this  chapter,  and  let  a  sad  affair  of  long  ago  die  out 
in  the  lapse  of  years.  But  there  are  reasons  why  we 
feel  constrained  to  mention  it  in  this  work.  It  was  a 
fact.  It  was  a  long  and  to  some  unmeasured  extent  an 
influence  in  his  life.  Not  all  have  forgotten  it.  In  re- 
ply to  a  letter  of  inquiry  from  the  writer  to  a  promi- 
nent man  in  Georgia  in  1881,  the  following  was  re- 
ceived:  "The  public  opinion  of  the  shooting  affair 
was  drawn  pretty  closely  to  a  political  line.  One  side 
justified  the  shooting  and  the  other  did  no: ,  I  recently 
asked  a  man  who  lived  here  at  that  time  atout  the  mat- 
ter and  he  flew  all  to  pieces  over  it. "  And  in  addition 
it  seemed  to  be  a  desire  of  Mr.  Sabin  that  his  side  of  it 
should  be  known.  It  had  never  been  talked  of  in  his 
family;  what  we  knew  of  it  was  gained  from  others. 
But  in  the  last  days  of  his  life  he  seemed  anxious  to 
speak  of  it.  The  following  account  is  based  upon 
statements  taken  down  from  his  lips  a  few  days  before 
he  died : 

In  the  war  of  18 12  the  third  brigade  of  the  Vermont 
militia  was  called  into  the  field  and  sent  to  the  west  side 
of  Lake  Champlain  to  keep  back  the  British  troops  in 
any  attempt  to  enter  from  Canada.  There  was  much 
objection  to  this.  It  was  not  a  militia  man's  duty  to  go 
beyond  the  state  lines.     The  Governor  ordered  them 


J 


,^j^  Ufe  oj  Kn^-  ^^'^'«^'  •^'''^'"• 

back  ;  but  the  brigade  did  not  think  best  to  <^<^-^rUh^ 
commanders  as  a  body,  and  therefore  -•---■'\  ^'^  ^^  ^^^^^ 
individuals  went  home.    There  were  many  who  th<  uRh 
that  even  if  there  was  a  necessity  for  Vernum   troops  t^ 
be  called   into  the  defense  of  the  ,'reat  state  of  New 
York,  yet  it  was  not  wise  to  take  the  ent.re  force  from 
the  county  of  Franklin  and  leave  the  forty  m.les  of  its 
own  Canadian  border  without  defense.    Added  to  these 
were  many  who  were  not  in  sympathy  with  the  war 
Tnd  they  were  ready,  as  the  copperheads  '"  tj^  ,^- 
rebellion  of  1861  were,  to  hinder  the  war  and  find  fault 
;  th  any  measure  of  the  war  party.     Nevertheless  the 
Militia  vvere  called  to  New  York,  and  among  them  went 
A  vah  Sabin,  of  Georgia,  and  Silas  Gates,  of  St.  Albans. 
tZ  were  mustered  into  service  at  Hurhngton.  and 
that  same  night  went  to  the  lake,  and  waded  across  the 
.-sand-bar,-  then  in  boats  were  conveyed  to  Cumberland 
Head,  from  there  they  went  to  Chazee.   In  the  course 
of  the  journey  these  two  young  men  met  for  the  firs 
time,  so  there  was  no  chance  for  the  accusation  that 
any  former  difficulty  was  involved  .n  the  case 

The  opposition  to  the  service  was  so  great  that  half 
the   regiment  of  which  these  men  were  members  de- 
serted, and  went  to  their  homes  to  care  for  the.r  fani^s 
which  were  suffering  by  reason  of  their  absence.     The 
officers  found  it  necessary  to  check  the  desertion    and 
Alvah  Sabin  was  sent  with  Sergeant  Henry  G.bbs  to 
bring  back  one  of  them.     They   went  to  th.  house  ot 
Silas  Gates,  and  told  him  their  busn^ess.    He  submitted 
to  the  military  arrest,  but  asked  leave  to  go  and  get  h,s 
horse.     Gibbs  went  with    him   to  do   this   and   Sab.n 
awaited  their  return.     It  had  been  determined  by  both 
Gibbs  and  Sabin  that  it  was  not  wise  to  take  hnn  through 


if 


Tlu  Gates  Affair. 


t  to  ilfscrl  their 
[iviincd,  though 
ny  who  thou^jht 
rinont  troops  to 
t  state  of  New 
ntire  force  from 
)rty  miles  of  its 

Added  to  these 
with  the  war, 
ds  in  the  great 
ar  and  find  fault 
Nevertheless  the 
mong  them  went 
cs,  of  St.  Albans. 

Burlington,  and 
vaded  across  the 
jd  to  Cumberland 
.',  In  the  course 
I  met  for  the  first 
;  accusation  that 
:he  case. 

JO  great  that  half 
'ere  members  de- 
ire  for  their  farms 
eir  absence.     The 
he  desertion,  and 
it  Henry  Gibbs  to 
t  to  the  house  ot 
;ss.    He  submitted 
;  to  go  and  get  his 
io   this   and   Sabin 
ietermined  by  both 
o  take  him  through 


•49 


St.  .Albans,  because  there  was  a   strong  party  hostility 
bttween  Georgia  and  that  town  owing  to  the  interests 
each  had  in  the  war.     St.  .Albans  was  profiting  by  the 
smuggling  trade  from  Canada,    while  Georgia  was  dis- 
posed to  collect  the  tluty.      (iates  wanted  to  escape,   of 
course.      He  asked   leave    to  get   some   things  to  take 
with  him  and  as  he  must  go  into  the  house  (iibbs  said 
to  Sabin,  "1  will  go  in  with  him  and  do  you  stand  here 
and  see  that  there  is  no  dodging."     As  the  two  went  in 
Gates   taking  advantage  of  the   darkness   turned  aside 
from    the    straight    way  through   the  hall,    and.  going 
through  a  bed  room  while  Gibbs  was  fumbling  about  in 
a  strange  house,  jumped  out  of  a  window  and  ran  across 
the  field.     Sabin  heard   the  window  fall,   and  stepped 
around  the  corner    in  time  to  see  his  prisoner  running 
twenty  rods  off.      He  did   what   was  his  first   duty  as  a 
soldier,  fired  at  him,  alas  !    with  too  true  an  aim.      The 
ball  went  in  at  the  side  of  the  spine  and  came  out  in 
front.      He    died  five  days  after,  but  not  until  he  had 
expressed  his  forgiveness  toward  his  unfortunate  fellow 
soldier.     The  news  spread  like  fire  and  soon  there  were 
seventy-five  men  gathered  mostly  of  the  opposite  party 
and  meditating  violence.     But  the  final  decision  was  to 
let  the  law  take  its  course.      He  was  taken  to  the  jail, 
and  put  into  a  dark  cell  and  kept  over  night.     It  was  a 
most  wretched  and  terrible  night.     He  knew  that  the 
wound  was  fatal,  and  that  he  had  killed  a  fellow  man. 
His  heart  was  not  used  to  crime  nor  the  contemplation 
of  it.     He  was  not  an  old  soldier  accustomed  to  the 
sight  of  carnage.      He  had    never  been  in  battle.      A 
case  of  manslaughter  in  that  region  would  stir  the  whole 
community  with  horror,   and  him,  tender  hearted  as  he 
was,  most  of  all.      And  he   was   face  to    face  with  his 


V  J 


i,i 


i. 


I 


■.ii 


,  50  lif'  of  Rtv.  Alvah  Sabin. 

deed  all  ni^ht.     Added  to  this  was  the  uncertainty  .)f 
his  own  fate.     He  miyht  be  hunt;,    his  family   be   d.s- 
Braced,  and  moreover  his  future  in  the  next  l.fe  was  ni 
doubt.      He  was  a  Christian,    but  he  had  done  a  deed 
which  had  never  been  in  his  thought ;  and  whether  he 
would  lose  his  soul  for  it  was  a  matter  of  ^rave  cmv 
cern      The  terrible  ni^ht  made  impression  on  him  that 
he  never  overcame.     He  always  feared  to  be  alone  m 
the  dark.     Often  during   his  life   did   he  say  that  he 
would  not  stay  in  a  house  alone  over  night  for  much 
money      If  there  are  or  were  any  who  held  a  grudge 
against  him  for  the   act.  could  they  know  how  the  ex- 
perience of  that  night  stuck  in  his  sensitive  soul  hke  an 
arrow  in  a  wounded  deer  and  gave  him  pain  that  "ever 
ceased,  they  would  say  that  he  had   "received  double 

for  all  his  sin." 

In   the   morning  a  number  of  men  came  up  from 
Georgia  to  see  him.     They  said  at  oncfi  that  he  must 
be  taken  out  of  the  cell  and  put  in  a  debtors  pnson. 
«'Thc  facts,"  said  they  "are  all  known,  and  it  is  only  a 
question  of  whether  he  was  in  the  line  of  his  duty  or 
not      Put  him  in  a  debtor's  prison,   and  wc  will   not 
make  any  attempt  to  release  him.     But  we  will  nut  sub- 
mit to  have  him  in  that  cell."     It  was  well  understood 
that   the   men  of  Georgia  were  resolute ;  and  with   the 
feeling  about  the  war  it  would  have  been  any  easy  mat- 
ter to  kindle  a  strife  between  the  towns  over  this  case. 
He  was  therefore  put  in  a  debtor's  prison.     He  told  his 
friends  how  he  suffered  that  night,  and  the  young  men 
of  Georgia  arranged  that  one   of  their  number  should 
go  up  and  stay  with  him  each  night  that  he  was  there. 

An  incident  occurred  while  he  was  awaiting  his  trial 
which  shows  the  man.    The  jail  caught  fire  in  the  night. 


The  Gates  Affair. 


iSi 


uncertainty  of 
amily  be  dis- 
cxt  life  was  in 
d  done  a  deed 
nd  whether  ho 

of  jjrave  con- 
on  on  him  that 
to  be  alone  in 
lie  say  that  he 
night  for  much 

held  a  grudge 

3W  how  the  ex- 

tive  soul  like  an 

pain  that  never 

received  double 

came  up  from 
:e  that  he  must 

debtors  jirison. 
,  and  it  is  only  a 
e  of  his  duty  or 
and  we  will   not 
t  we  will  not  sub- 
well   understood 
ite ;  and  with   the 
en  any  easy  mat- 
is  over  this  case, 
son.     He  told  his 
d  the  young  men 
ir  number  should 
at  he  was  there. 

awaiting  his  trial 
t  fire  in  the  night. 


The  jailer  called  for  help  and  removed  some  of  the 
prisoners  to  places  of  safety  or  put  them  uiuler  guai\l 
in  the  yard.  lUit  to  him  he  said,  "Now  Sabin  you  go 
and  help  us  put  this  fire  out; and  when  I  call  you  come." 
So  lie  went  and  fought  fire  until  it  was  out.  Some  of 
his  friends  said  to  him,  "Now  is  your  time!  Come  on." 
Ikit  he  said  "No,  I  will  not  run  away."  Kinaily  the 
jailer  .stood  up  on  the  steps  and  called  "Sabin,  come  !" 
"Here  I  am,"  and  he  went  back  to  prison.  We  are 
not  sure  but  this  is  as  good  an  example  of  trust- 
worthiness as  John  Hunyan's  going  alone  from  jail  to  the 
town  of  his  trial,  and  then  returning  to  his  prison 
again. 

Judge  Whitmore  came  to  a.sk  him  if  he  wanted  any 
legal  help  and  offered  his  services,  Aldisand  Gadcomb 
and  Cornelius  Van  Ness  were  also  engaged  in  his  de- 
fence. 

An  indictment  for  manslaughter  was  made  by  the 
grand  jury  and  a  prosecution  was  begun  before  Judge 
Hoyt.  At  the  request  of  friends  Judge  Farnsworth,  of 
Fairfax,  was  joined  in  the  case,  it  being  well  known  that 
Judge  Hoyt  was  oppo.sed  to  the  war.  He  himself 
magnanimously  agreed  to  have  an  associate.  By  con- 
sent of  coun.sel  the  case  was  taken  to  the  Supreme 
Court  and  bail  granted  until  that  should  set. 

In  December,  1813,  the  case  came  to  trial  and  the 
jury  disagreed,  three  for  "acquittal,"  and  nine  for 
"manslaughter."  It  was  brought  up  again  in  Decem- 
ber, 18 14,  and  resulted  in  another  disagreement;  but 
the  jury  was  now  nine  for  acquittal  and  three  for  man- 
slaughter. 

In  December,  1815,  by   mutual   consent  of  counsel, 
the  political  feeling  having  subsided,  a  nolle  prosequi  wd^s 


I 


, -2  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

entered  by  the  state  and  he  was  accordingly  discharged. 
This  was  not  fully  satisfactory  to  him.  He  used  to 
feel  that  the  rceord  of  the  court  was  not  as  clear  as  he 
would  be  glad  to  have  it.  Could  he  have  had  a  trial 
and  been  acquitted  it  would  in  his  judgment  have  been 

better. 

We  do  not  think  that  this  matter  gave  him  any  anx- 
iety about  his  future  hope.      He  said  that  he  not  only 
had  no  malice,  but  that  the  people  of  St.   Albans  had 
seemed  to  think  he  was   not  censurable   for   it.     They 
had  been  active  in  his  support  in  all  the  political  honors 
that  had  been  given  him.     And  yet  he  said  there  had 
been  a  feeling  with  him  that  he  ought  to  stay  in  Georgia 
and  make  his  record  and  establish  his  character  among 
the  very  people  who  knew  the  case.     And  we  do  not 
doubt  that  this  feeling  had  much  to  do  with  his  refusal 
to  leave  there,  although  he  might  have  done  so  to  great 
temporal  advantage.  ,      .    ^ 

To  his  family  it  has  been  a  sad  thing  for  his  sake  but 
with  these  statements  we  are  content  to  leave  the  case 
in  the  hands  of  just  public  sentiment. 


Notes  of  a  Funeral  Sermon. 


153 


Tly  dischaiged. 
J.  He  used  to 
as  clear  as  he 
ive  had  a  trial 
nent  have  been 

;  him  any  anx- 
lat  he  not  only 
3t.   Albans  had 

for   it.     They 
political  honors 

said  there  had 
stay  in  Georgia 
;haracter  among 
\nd  we  do  not 
with  his  refusal 
done  so  to  great 

for  his  sake  but 
9  leave  the  case 


CHAPTER  X. 

NOTES   OF   A    FUNERAL   SERMON     PREACHED    AT    GEORGIA, 
MAY    14,     1839. 

Text:  Psalm  27:  10. 

When  my  father  and  my  mother  forsake  me,  then 
the  Lord  ivill  take  {gather)  me  up. 

Confidence  may  be  reposed  in  Divine  Providence  in 
times  of  our  greatest  extremity.  As  was  said  of  Asher 
in  the  blessing  of  Moses  (Deut.  33:25)  so  may  it  be 
said  of  the  afflicted  and  forlorn.  "Thy  shoes  shall  be 
iron  and  brass;  and  as  thy  days  so  shall  thy  strength 
be'."  The  adage  is,  "God  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn 
lamb. '  God  by  the  mouth  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah  ex- 
horts dying  fathers  (Jer.  49:1),  "Leave  thy  fatherless 
children,  and  let  thy  widows  trust  in  me." 

By  Divine  Providence  we  understand  '  'the  foresight, 
superintendence,  and  timely  care  of  God  over  created 
beings."  This  care  in  all  ordinary  cases  is  exercised 
toward  creatures  through  a  system  of  well  regulated 
means.  For  example :  Parents  must  support  their 
children ;  brethren  shall  care  for  the  members  of  their 
own  community. 

God  effects  this  superintendence  in  a  way  that  calls 
for  the  exercise  of  all  the  good  graces  of  the  virtuous 
part  of  the  community.  It  was  not  his  design  to  make 
pronu^es  of  such  a  nature  as  to  produce  sloth,  indo- 
lence and  insensibility  on  the  part  of  the  creature ;  but 
the  contrary  virtues,  vigilance,  activity  and  the  liveliest 


>f 


I, 


if. 


r'^--»*irw^*-' 


ij^  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

sympathy.  God  regards  the  happiness  of  good  men 
too  highly  to  rob  them  of  the  luxury  of  being  the  m- 
struments  of  effecting  his  benevolent  designs.  That  is 
a  false  confidence  which  says,  "be  ye  warm,  and  be  ye 
filled,"  while  it  refrains  from  giving  to  the  poor  what  is 
needful  for  their  bodies. 

With  all  the  means  that  have  been  provided  for  the 
needy  and  distressed,  there  is  still  occasion  for  strong 
faith  to  enable  us  to  lay  hold  of  that  degree  of  conso- 
lation necessary  to  sustain  us  under  the  dark  providences 

of  God.  .  .J  f 

Among  all  classes  of  men  to  whom  the  providence  oi 
God  extends,  toward  none  is  it  more  dark  and  mysteri- 
ous than  toward  the  class  brought  to  view  in  the  text, 
namely:  those  forsaken  of  father  and  mother  and  cast 
forlorn  upon  the  wide  world.  Such  were  called  Or- 
phans Not  all  who  nominally  come  under  this  head  are 
entitled  to  an  equal  share  of  our  sympathy.  A  knowl- 
edge of  their  relative  conditions  is  necessary  to  deter- 
mine the  strength  of  their  claims. 

We  inquire  first  who  are  Orphans?    Those  bereft  of 
father,  or  mother,  or  both;  by  death,  or  removal,  or 
some   uncontrolable   providence,  such   as  war,    or  de- 
sertion.    Those  who  are  in  their  years  of  majority,  and 
capable  of  providing  for  themselves  have  no  claims  on  us. 
Childhood  blessed  with  capable  friends,  disposed  to  ex- 
ercise paternal  care  need  not  so  much  exite  our  sympa- 
thy     Such  may  be  the  subsequent  relation  formed  by 
the  surviving  parent,  if  one  there   is,  as   may   relieve 
us   from   our   solicitations.     But  it   is  the   parentless, 
friendless,  penniless  orphan  in  childhood  that  awakens 
in  our  breasts  the  full  toned,  and  the  whole  round  of 
sympathy  that  turns  the  head  to  waters,  and  the   eyes 


,:itf.f-rr -"-*"*'''"■'" 


Notes  of  a  Funeral  Sennon. 


155 


of  good  men 

being  the  in- 

ligns.     That  is 

,rm,  and  be  ye 

le  poor  what  is 

ovided  for  the 
5ion  for  strong 
:gree  of  conso- 
ark  providences 

e  providence  of 
rk  and  mysteri- 
w  in  the  text, 
lother  and  cast 
were  called  Dr- 
ier this  head  are 
thy.  A  knowl- 
:essary  to  deter- 

Those  bereft  of 
,  or  removal,  or 

as  war,  or  de- 
of  majority,  and 
2  no  claims  on  us, 
,  disposed  to  ex- 
exite  our  sympa- 
lation  formed  by 

as  may  relieve 
s  the  parentless, 
3od  that  awakens 
;  whole  round  of 
rs,  and  the   eyes 


to  fountains  of  tears.  But  even  this  li  js  are  permitted 
to  hope,  and  their  friends  for  thenr.  ?nay  hope,  that 
when  \hft\x  fathet  and  mother  forsake  them  then  the  Lord 
will  take  them  up. 

We  now  propose  to  point  out  some  of  the  guards 
and  protections  provided  by  the  Divine  Providence  as 
substitutes  for  those  exercised  by  natural  parents.  Be- 
fore we  discuss  this  it  may  be  proper  to  preface  a  few 
things,  lest  more  be  expected  from  Providence  than  he 
has  promised. 

(i.)  God  has  not  promised  to  make  any  orphan 
wealthy  in  the  things  of  this  life. 

(2.)  He  has  not  promised  to  make  them  all  literary 
men. 

(3.)  He  has  not  promised  to  exempt  them  from  the 
natural  evils  th-'t  fall  to  the  common  lot  of  children 
blessed  with  parents. 

(4.)  He  has  not  promised  that  the  wicked  influences 
that  parents  may  have  exerted  over  their  children  while 
they  were  alive  shall  cease  to  produce  their  bad  effect  as 
soon  as  they  are  dead. 

(5.)  He  has  not  relieved  the  orphan  from  the  obli- 
gation, binding  upon  all  youth,  to  obey  God  and  all 
the  reasonable  injunctions  of  those  who  have  the  rule 
over  them. 

(6.)  He  has  not  promised  the  orphan  sound  friends 
and  respectability  in  life  on  any  other  condition  than 
that  proposed  to  all  other  youth. 

(7.)  He  has  not  promised  salvation  to  the  orphan  on 
any  other  terms  than  those  proposed  to  all  men. 

With  this  preface  we  propose  to  point  out  some  of 
the  guards  and  protections  thrown  around  the  orphan. 


itei. 


156  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

I.  God  has  solemnly  enacted  laivs,  to  which  he  has 
affixed  awful  penalties,  which  guarantee  protection  to 
the  fatherless.  God  said  to  Israel,  "Ye  shall  not  af- 
flict any  woman  or  fatherless  child.  If  thou  afflict 
them  in  any  wise  and  they  cry  at  all  unto  me,  I  will 
surely  hear  their  cry,  and  my  wrath  shall  wax  hot,  and 
I  will  kill  you  with  the  sword  ;  and  your  wives  shall  be 
widows,  and  your  children  fatherless."  (f:x.  22:22.) 

Affliction  includes  several  things.  This  command 
means,  Thou  shalt  not  afflict  the  fatherless  by  producing 
exaggerated  and  unjust  accounts  against  their  estate. 

Thou  shalt  not  take  advantage  of  their  ignorance  of 
business  and  the  value  of  property. 

Thou  shalt  not  entice  them  into  by  and  forbidden 
paths   because   they   have  none  to  guide  them  in  the 

path  of  duty. 

Thou  shalt  not  vex  them  by  circulating  slanderous 

reports  concerning  them. 

Thou  shalt  not  vex  them  by  passing  discouragmg 
opinions  of  them,  such  as,  '^  \ey  are  spoiled  children;' 
'he  will  make  nothing  ; '  'tl    .    viU  come  to  ruin." 

II.  God  has  sweetly  pledg.d  himself  to  protect  them. 
(Deut.  10:18).  God  executeth  the  judgment  of  the 
fatherless  and  the  widows  and  the  stranger  in  giving 
him  food  and  raiment. 

(Ps.    146:9.)     God  relieveth  the   fatherless  and  the 

widows.  ,     .   J        t 

(Ps.  68:5.)     A  father  of  the  fatherless  and  a  judge  of 
the  widows  is  God  in  his  holy  habitation.  (Ps.  10:15). 

(Hosea   14:3.)   Thou  art  the  helper  of  the  fatherless. 
For   in   thee  the  fatherless   find  mercy.     All  these  ex- 
press and  implied  promises  are  made  by  one  who  has 
•      power,    wisdom,  goodness  and  truth.     He  has  stayed 


-  ;af ^'.'•■■•'Wft<=-'^*-= 


S^^j^^-t:  ;-_3i.je.i»riatSLafc!.^  sV"- 


which  he  has 
c  proUction  to 
e  shall  not  af- 
f  thou  afflict 
to  me,  I  will 
1  wax  hot,  and 
wives  shall  be 
Ex.  22:22.) 
rhis  command 
ss  by  producing 

their  estate, 
r  ignorance  of 

'  and  forbidden 
le  them  in  the 

iting  slanderous 

ig  discouraging 
loiled  children ;' 
e  to  ruin.' 
■  to  protect  them. 
idgment  of  the 
ranger  in  giving 

;herless  and  the 

;s  and  a  judge  of 
n.  (Ps.  10:15). 
if  the  fatherless. 
r.  All  these  ex- 
by  one  who  has 
He  has  stayed 


Notes  of  a  Funeral  Sermon. 


157 


the  vials  of  his  wrath  from  being  poured  upon  a  people 
until  the  cup  of  their  iniquity  has  been  filled  by  tramp- 
ling on  the  rights  of  the  fatherless. 

It  was  given  by  Isaiah  as  a  reason  for  troubles;  "they 
judge  not  the  fatherless,  neither  doth  the  cause  of  the 
widow  come  unto  them,  therefore,  saith  the  Lord,  the 
Lord  of  Hosts,  the  Mighty  One  of  Israel,  Ah,  I  will  ease 
me  of  mine  adversaries  and  avenge  me  of  mine  enemies. " 

Qer.  ']:(^.)  "If  ye  oppress  not  the  stranger,  the 
fatherless  and  the  widow,  *  *  then  will  I  cause  you 
to  dwell  in  this  place,  in  the  land  that  I  gave  to  your 
fathers  forever  and  ever."  Thus  implying  that  op- 
pression of  the  needy  would  cause  their  expulsion  from 
the  land  of  their  fathers. 

III.  God  has  made  compassion  to  the  orphan  an  indis- 
pensiblc  evidence  of  the  genuineness  of  our  piety. 

(James  1:27.)  "Pure  religion  and  undefiled  before 
God  and  the  father  is  this :  To  visit  the  fatherless  and 
the  widows  in  their  affliction  and  to  keep  himself  un- 
spotted from  the  world."  Job  in  the  midst  of  his  af- 
fliction was  permitted  to  have  hope  because  he  delivered 
the  poor  that  cried,  and  the  fatherless,  and  him  that  had 
none  to  help  him. 

IV.  God  has  implanted  in  the  breast  a  sympathy  thai 
guards  ivith  vigilance  the  tights  of  the  orphan. 

(i.)  It  opens  the  doors  of  comfort  and  competency 
to  their  reception. 

(2.)     It  prepares  an  asylum  for  their  comfort. 

(3.)  It  calls  down  the  blessing  of  God.  Who  ever 
put  his  hand  on  the  head  of  a  little  orphan  boy  and  did 
not  virtually  say,  'God  bless  you,  my  son  ?"  Who  ever 
kissed  the  cheek  of  a  little  orphan  girl  and  did  not  pray 
the  Lord  to  preserve  the  sweet  child  of  sorrow  ? 


'If 


r 


i. 


II. 


ijg  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

(4.)  It  seems  as  if  God  designed  good  concerning 
them  in  giving  them  a  name  whose  very  sound  is  music. 
"The  little  orphan  boy— the  little  orphan  girl."  The 
story  entitled  the  children  in  the  wood  will  live  when 
the  hills  have  grown  old,  because  it  awakens  sympathy 
for  the  orphan. 

Oh,  could  the  spirit  of  the  departed  mother  whose  re- 
mains' lie  before  us,  be  permitted  to  show  itself,  a  smile 
would  be  on  its  countenance  as  it  remembers  the  pro- 
tection that  God  has  made  for  orphans,  and  hears  a 
plea  for  justice  and  sympathy  in  behalf  of  these  her 
lonely  weeping  children. 

The  above  is  one  of  the  few  sermons  of  an   early 
date  whose  notes  were  written  and  preserved.  It  is  plain 
that  he  did  not  study  "economy  of  material."    It  shows 
the  habit  of  proving  things  by   scripture ;  a  cautious 
logical  mind;  a  practical  application   of  truth;  and  a 
tender   sympathy.     We  find  no  sermon  of  his  which 
presents  truthfully  so  many  traits  as  this  does.     If  the 
reader  will   remember   that  these  notes  were  not  with 
him  in  the  pulpit,  and  think  of  a  tall,  well  built  man 
standing  squarely  on  both  feet  behind  the  pulpit,  with 
strong,  pleasant  voice  seizing  his  topic  with  confidence 
at  the  first  sentence  ;  speaking  with  a  tone  that  revealed 
a  certainty  of  conviction,  without  assuming  dictatorial 
accents;  depending  on  his  words,  not  on  gesture,  or 
acting  of  any  sort ;  and  filling  up  this  analysis  with  a 
full  flow  of  words  chosen  from  the  simple  vocabulary  of 
the  farmers  to  whom  he  spoke,   with  the  softening  of 
tone,  and  moistening  of  eyes  which  was  genuine,  not 
cultivated,    he  will  have  a  good    conception  of  this 
preacher. 


ft''V 


I.; 

Si! 


.■--*«(tJWySMa«3£F**'*^*^'^'^''' 


L'i**iB^'**»»^^'*'  ■*^ 


)od  concerning 
sound  is  music, 
an  girl."  The 
will  live  when 
ikens  sympathy 

other  whose  re- 
w  itself,  a  smile 
;mbers  the  pro- 
s,  and  hears  a 
ilf  of  these  her 

ns   of  an   early 
erved.  It  is  plain 
erial."    It  shows 
ture ;  a  cautious 
of  truth  ;  and  a 
ion  of  his  which 
lis  does.     If  the 
es  were  not  with 
,  well  built  man, 
the  pulpit,  with 
with  confidence 
one  that  revealed 
uming  dictatorial 
ot  on  gesture,  or 
is  analysis  with  a 
[iple  vocabulary  of 
the  softening  of 
was  genuine,  not 
onception  of  this 


Notes  of  a  Funeral  Sermon, 


159 


CHAPTER  XI. 


FUNERAL  SERVICES. 


The  decision  of  the  family  was  to  have  a  service  at 
Sycamore,  at  the  residence  of  B,  F.  Sabin  the  son  with 
whom  he  lived,  and  where  he  died ;  but  to  bury  the 
body  among  the  friends  who  had  loved  him  in  Georgia. 
There  being  no  pastor  at  the  Baptist  church  it  was  his 
request  that  a  grandson  should  preach.  *  When  he  pro- 
tested that  he  could  not  trust  himself  to  attempt  it, 
Father  Sabin  said,  "You  need  not  get  up  any  thing  new 
nor  any  thing  about  me  but  just  preach  a  gospel  sermon 
and  comfort  the  friends. " 

The  promise  was  made,  and  carried  out.  The  pastors 
of  the  Methodist  and  Presbyterian  churches  were  pre- 
sent, and  assisted  in  the  services.  A  quartette  choir 
from  the  Presbyterian  church  sang  most  appropriately 
and  sweetly  several  hymns  of  faith  and  trust  in   Jesus. 

The  sermon  was  reported,  and  by  the  request  of 
many  friends  is  here  published  to  complete  the  record. 

Sermon. 

My  friends,  I  have  a  sad  and  yet  a  glad  task,  a  diffi- 
cult and  an  easy  task  to  day.  Difficult  because  I  must 
try  to  hold  in  check  the  emotions  that  come  flooding 
my  mind  and  heart.  Easy  because  I  learned  when  a 
small  boy  to  have  confidence  in  the  judgment  of  this 
dear  man.     I  learned  that  his  requests  were  safe,  and 

*  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin  Hobart,  Cincinnati,  O. 


r 


1 60  Li/e  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

purposes  were  kind.     In  obedience  to  the  old  habit,  and 
with  a  desire  to  {jrant  the  last  request  of  one  who  be- 
came a  mother  to  me  upon  the  death  of  my  mother, 
and,  in  turn.  ..- •  teacher,  my  pastor  and  my  example 
of  a  godly  minister  I  attempt  to  speak  to-day.     It  was 
his  request,  and  therefore  I  repress  the  emotions  which 
would  lead  me  to  sit  \\n\\  these  mourners,  and  mingle 
with  my  tears  thanksgiving  to  God  for  such  a  grand-fa- 
ther, and  for  such  a  gospel  of  comfort  as  he  taught  me. 
I  will  try  to  forget  for  a  brief  time  that  I  am  a  son, 
and  remember  only  that  I  a  minister  of  the  gospel  which 
he,  our  dear,  dear,  old  pastor,  loved  so  well ;  and  with 
which  he  comforted  others.     I  desire  to  speak  as  if  he 
were  here  to  listen.     The  task  is  easier  because  so  many 
of  you  came  from  our  loved  Vermont,  and  from  Geor- 
gia as  well.     You  heard  him  preach  ;  you  love  the  hills 
and  mountains  that  he  loved:  you  are  familiar  with  the 
roads  he   traveled  :  the  old  house  where  he  lived,  and 
the  tall  poplar  beside  it:  the  place  where  he  preached: 
the  burying  ground  of  his  fathers  and  yours  are  all  dear 
to  you  as  well  as  to  me.     When  a  little  fellow  it  was 
my  habit  to  sit  in  the  pulpit  with  him  and  look  out  upon 
the  congregation,  and  the  faces  are  all  photographed 
upon  my  memory. 

I  ask  myself  how  shall  shall  I  comfort  you  ?  There 
is  but  one  who  has  the  right  to  the  name  of  "Com- 
forter ; "  that  is  the  Holy  Spirit.  And  he  comforts  by 
taking  the  things  of  Jesus  and  showing  them  to  us.  It 
is  the  truth  applied  by  the  spirit  that  comforts.  There 
is  no  help  for  the  sorrowing  hearts  in  an  attempt  to  ex- 
plain the  mysteries  of  affliction.  I  can  not  answer  the 
question  why  so  good  a  man  should  fall  and  suffer  so 
much  to  die.     I  do  not  know  enough  of  the  causes  nor 


iHBi'WJtJWWAi^K'SW^^' -  ■•''-■^"' 


^j^^^fStasTSBraJ:!^"! 


^ja2K«5«pW»S^' 


w»^.s«««aai«s&*.ii£«i^^>^s'^*-*^^'*'*^'^'" 


>i 


f,\ 


tn. 

he  old  habit,  and 
:  of  one  who  be- 
1  of  my  mother, 
ind  my  example 
k  to-day.     It  was 
c  emotions  which 
rners,  and  mingle 
r  such  a  grand-fa- 
as  he  taught  me. 
that  I  am  a  son, 
fthe  gospel  which 
so  well ;  and  with 
to  speak  as  if  he 
r  because  so  many 
t,  and  from  Geor- 
you  love  the  hills 
i  familiar  with  the 
lere  he  lived,  and 
lere  he  preached: 
yours  are  all  dear 
ttle  fellow  it  was 
and  look  out  upon 
all  photographed 

fort  you?  There 
e  name  of  "Com- 
nd  he  comforts  by 
ig  them  to  us.  It 
comforts.  There 
an  attempt  to  ex- 
an  not  answer  the 
[  fall  and  suffer  so 
I  of  the  causes  nor 


Funeral  Services. 


i6i 


results  of  sorrow  on  human   hearts  to  explain  it  at  all 
and  I  will  not  try.     There  was  a  man  once  who  was   in 
great  sorrow  over  the  loss  of  family,  and  property,  and 
health.      His  learned  friends  came  in  to  comfort  him  by 
explaining  to  him  the  reasons  of  his  misfortunes ;  but 
he  said,  ' 'miserable comforters  are  ye  all."    Afterwards 
God  appeared  on  the  scene,  but  He  did  not  explain  any 
thmg  to  Job.     So  far  as  we  know  Job  died  in  ignorance 
of  the  reasons  of  his  trouble.      But  Jehovah  called  his 
attention  to  the  signs  of  God's  goodness,  wisdom,  and 
power  in  the  heavens  above  and  in  the  earth  beneath. 
He  seems  to  have  called  Job's  attention  to  all  that  he 
could  see  ;  and  to  have  pointed  out  in  all  these  the  won- 
drous skill  of  the   Creator.     And  Job  was   humbled. 
He  cried  out  "I  have  heard  of  Thee  by  the  hearing  of 
the  ear  but  now  mine  eye  seeth  Thee;  therefore  I  abhor 
myself  and  repent  in  dust  and  ashes,  and  I  confess  that 
I  have  spoken  things  I  understood  not."  It  was  a  lesson 
of  faith.     He   saw   that  God  was  good    enough,   and 
wise  enough,  so  that  he  could  well  afford  to  lie  down  as 
it  were,  in  his  arms  :  or  give  him  the  hand  and  let  him 
lead,  assured  that  He  doeth  all  things  well.   So  now  we 
will  not  try  to  explain  anything  but  seek  to  get  our 
comfort  from  what  is  revealed  in  the  gospel. 

In  the  fourth  chapter  of  first  Thessalonians,    and  the 

13-18  verses  are  written  these  words,  " I tvould  not  have 

you   to  be  ignorant,  brethren,  concerning  them  whtch  are 

asleep,  that  ye  sorroxv  not,  even  as  others  which  have  no 

hope." 

Here  we  are  taught  that  it  is  not  only  the  privilege 
of  Christians  to  have  a  consolation  at  the  death  of  friends 
which  the  world  does  not  have ;  but  it  is  their  duty  as 
well  not  to  sorrow  with  that  inconsolable,  grief  natural 


I, 


^ 


'i. 


V'i 


3S5?».t.-3S*=aB9»5»'B>'?-^' 


4i 


■I 


rr-- 


if: 


w 


to  those  ^vho  have  no  hope.  Then  the  Lord  by  his  apc^- 
Ue  coes  on  to  show  why  we  have  reason  to  be  consoled. 
'/or  if  we  believe  that  Jesm  died  and  .ose  agam,  even  so 
theZLo  uM  sleep  in  Jesus  u^ill  God  bnng  ^Uh  /..« 
Tor  this  u.  say  unto  you  by  the  u.rd  of  the  lord:  hat^ 
u'hieh  are  alive  and  remain  unto  the  eomngoj  the  Lord 
shall  not  go  before  then,  u'hieh  are  asleep :  for  the  Lord 
1Z   If  shall  deseendfron.  heaven  u^ith  a  ^hout.unth  the 
Zee  f  the  Arehangel,  ana  unth  the  tnjn,p  of  God:  and 
the  dead  in  am/"-(Mark  the  limit  of  the  promise,  the 
deadrChrist)-"./.«//m'-  first.    Then  wewhuhareaHve 
tdnZt  shall  be  eaught  up  together  .iththen.  ,n  the 
Zds  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air:  and  so  shall  we  evef  be 
tmZ  Lord.     Wherefore  comfort  one  anot^^er  wUh  these 
Jords  ••     Here  then  is  the  very  truth  wh.ch  our  Lord 
has  given  for  the  comfort  of  his  people  in  such  t.mes  as 
these.    Let  us  see  what  it  contams. 
First  there  is  the  truth  : 

Qod's  People  Retain  Their  Identity. 

.'If  we    believe   that   Jesus  rose  again,  even     so.'* 
Mark  this  phrase,    <•  Even  so.'    Jesus   is  the   pattern 
of  what  Godwin  do  for  his  own.     In  Romans,  8    11 
it  is  written  "if  the  Spirit  that  raised  up  Jesus  dwell  m 
you.  He  that  raised  up    Christ  will  also  quicken  your 
mortal  bodies.-     Again  it  is  written,  (Romans   8:  29  ) 
-whom  He  did  foreknow  them  He  did  predestinate  to 
be  conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son.     That  he  migh 
be  the  first  born  among  many  brethren.    Here  it  is  the 
declared  purpose  of  God  to  people  heaven  with  a  mul- 
titude like  His  Son.     In  John's  letter  it  is  written       it 
doth  not^yet^ppear  what  we  shall  be,  but  when  it  does 


I 


,;.H^„-jfc;e^-£---^-^'^>^'*^"^^ 


■■:--^w>rS^a*  5,S?3W«fE'-ii 


,5'(J^*4-'***S«^'''*'^  '-"^ 


,:.:l-l&H't:^^^^%^'---'-^ 


v\'-u:^^':Mii.'-Vt  i.i 


)rd  by  his  apos- 
to  be  consoled. 
;e  again,  nun  so 
bring  with  htm. 
he  Lord:  that  we 
ning  of  the  Lord 
p  :  for  the  Lord 
a  shout,  tvith  the 
nip  of  God :  and 
the  promise,  the 
ve  which  are  aiive 

with  them  in  the 
7  shall  we  ever  be 
mother  with  these 
which  our  Lord 

in  such  times  as 


entity. 

gain,  even     so." 
s   is  the   pattern 
n  Romans,  8 :  1 1 
ap  Jesus  dwell  in 
Iso  quicken  your 
(Romans   8:  29,) 
d  predestinate  to 
I.     That  he  might 
;n."  Here  it  is  the 
;aven  with  a  mul- 
r  it  is  written,    "it 
,  but  when  it  does 


1 


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163 


appear  we  shall  be  like  Him  for  we  shall  sec  Him  aa 
He  is."  Again  it  is  written  in  Philippians,  3 :  21  "who 
shall  change  our  vile  body  that  it  may  be  fashioned  like 
unto  His  glorious  body."  Jesus  himself  is  a  book  on  the 
resurrection.  Would  you  know  anything  of  the  power 
of  God  toward  you,  or  his  purposes,  or  willingness, 
look  to  see  what  he  did  with  Jesus.  He  is  the  tvoe 
of  all.  ^P 

Now   of   him    three   things  are  true.      {a)  He  was 
the  same  Jesus.    He  is  the  ".same  yesterday,  to-day  and 
forever."     When  the  wondering  disciples  saw  him  as- 
cending to  heaven  and  stood  gazing  after  him,   angels 
said  to  them,  "This  same  Jesus  shall  so  come  as  ye  see 
him   go  into  heaven."     When   Paul  was   dazzled     by 
the  vision    on  his   way   to   Damascus,   and  said    who 
art  thou  Lord?   the  answer  was,  "I  am   Jesus    whom 
thou    persecutes!."      When   the   beloved    John,    who 
had  not  seen  his  face  nor  heard  his  voice  for  sixty  years, 
was  permitted  to  open  hi.<?  eyes  upon  heavenly  scenes  in 
the  beatific  vision  of  Patmos,  he  saw  one  "like  to  the 
son  of  man. "     But,  lest  in  the  glory  of  the  place  John 
should  be  in  doubt,  it  was  said  to  him.     "I  am  he  that 
was  dead,  but  am  alive  forevermore. "     And  then  at  the 
last  of  the  vision  it  was  said,    "I  Jesus,  "—notice,  the 
very  name  his  mother  called  him   by,— "I  Jesus  have 
sent  mine  angel  to  testify  these  things  in  the  churches." 
By  this  we  know  that  death  does  not  blot  out  our  con- 
sciousness of  former  existence.    We  shall  be  ourselves, 
and  know  that  we  are  ourselves.     And  that  life  is  but 
a  continuation  of  this  one.     Grandfather  has  not  ceased 
to  be  and  will  not. 

{b)    But  there  is  another  truth  here.     And  I  wonder 
that  we  should  not  see  it   sooner.     We   have    heard 


\'-.'. 


ffi 


\    ,1  "«hiU  we  know  our  friends  in  hea- 
thi-  (luestton  asked     snaii  we  mhj" 
vt,  ■      Did  ,1k  friend,  „f  J.»u»  know  him?    If  .hey  d  d 
r^  „.  shall  know  ours;  for  hi,  '--7"°"  '»J^ 
\  of  ours      The    .ipostles    were  iiualified  to  know 

r  ICthree'  ear/theyhad  li--^- his  words 
wiO  silent  wonder  :  they  had  hun«  upon  h.s  l.ps  they 
Wsa  at  his  feet  and  watched  the  ph^y  of  h.s  features, 
s^finl  th  t  v^  .ly  smile,  and  the  clouds  of  sorrow 
r  sometimes  overcast  it;  they  had  been  m  awe 
a  hr look  of  wrath,  of  righteous  indi.nat.on  wh.ch 
at  tilt    looK  qualified  to  know 

ir "^uryof  knJrt^hrdear  Father  Sabin  after 
^ree  days?  Yes.  after  three  years,  or  three  tn.es  three 
V e!rs '  And  so  did  the  apostles  know  Jesus.  And  so 
^         ■       \hpv  that  spent  their  lives  in  testifying  to  the 

72  "111  but'  two  f  not  all  but  one.  died  as  martyrs 
fact.      Al  but  tw  ^^  ^^^^    ^,^^y   i^^j 

because   they    persist  ^^  ^^^^^     ^^^^  ^ 

""li  Z"  klw  your  oldest  son  if  he  were  to  die  and 
-:^Xr^ree^a.s.  -j;- ^^^  r  ^  ^b^ 
^.^irw^h  :h  -tr  wrm'shthad  seen  .row  up 
To  manhold  ;  whose  miracles  had  at  f^rst  made  her  moth- 
er' heartVwcll  with  pride,  and  then  hushed  itwUhawe; 
^hoH  last  she  saw  crucified  -d  had  no  pc^er  to 
Lo  or  relieve.  She  was  not  deceived  about  h.nt.  It 
help,  or  reiiev  certainly  did 

was  her  own  son  )^^^^^  ^^  resurrection  is 

she  know  than  we  shall  know. 

z:  thrwra^^t  "amy  -  -  "^ .  z 

remember  how  he  could  hide  hi,  form  so  .ha.  .hey 


:^i?^.,.*:-'---^''"^'^^' 


1 


I'UHcml  Sfn'ii't's. 


165 


•  friends  in  hea- 
im?  If  they  did 
urrcction  is  the 
alificd  to  know 
icd  to  his  words 
)n  his  lips  :  they 

of  his  features, 
louds  of  sorrow 
ad  been  in  awe 
di^jnation  which 
[uaUfied  to  know 
ther  Sabin  after 
three  times  three 

Jesus.     And  so 
1  testifying  to  the 
died  as  martyrs 
that    they   had 
:e.     Hut  mothers, 
:  were  to  die  and 
ry  knew  her  son. 
:)se  life     she    had 
had  seen  grow  up 
St  made  her  moth- 
ushed  it  with  awe  ; 
had  no   power  to 
ed  about  him.     It 
nore  certainly  did 

his  resurrection  is 

fe.  Jesus  was  the 
as  in  a  new  condi- 
0  that  body.  You 
form  so  that  they 


did    not    recognize   it.      He    came    and    went   through 
closed    doors.       There    was     something    not     eartlily 
about     him.      And    .so    shall   all    be    changed.     This 
mortal  must    put  on  immortality  and  this  cf)rru[)tible 
put  on  incorruption.      This   old  and   weary  body  over 
which    we    have   watched   these   past    few  weeks    will 
have  found  its  youthful  vigor  anil    be     clad    in   never 
failing  strength.      There  will  be  no  more  pain,  no  mor< 
loss  of  power,  no  failing  memory,  no  dimmed  eye-sight, 
but  his  body  will  be  like  unto  the  glorious  body  of  our 
Lord,  and  surely  it  will  not  be  .sad  to  see  him  thus.      I 
met  a  man  upon  the  ocean  who  had  been  abroad  for  his 
health,  and  he  told  me  that  he  left  a   wife  and  two   chil- 
dren at  home.      While  the   days   of  our  journey  went 
slowly  by,  his  eyes  were  looking  constantly  homeward. 
His  heart  was  there  and  his  body  was  held  in  check  by 
the  waters.      When  we  came   to  New  York  he  was  on 
deck  looking  for  his  boy.      At   last   he  .saw  him  on  the 
wharf,  but  the  boy  did  not  see  him.     And  in  the  joy  of 
his  heart  he  forgot  hifnself  and  shouted  "Henry  !  Hen 
ry  !  Here  I  am  !  Here  I  am  !"  and  then  turning  to  me  he 
said,  "See  !    See  !    My  boy  is  there  !    My  boy  is  there  ! 
But  how  he  has  grown  !  "  Yes,  he  had  grown.  Changed 
greatly.  Yet  it  was  his  boy  all  the  .same.  And  doubtless 
the  wife  and  mother  thought  that  the  father  had  also 
changed.     The  once  hollow  eye  was  bright ;   the  feeble 
frame  was  erect  and  strong ;  the  voice  no  longer  faint, 
but  rich  and  full.    Yet  he  was  father  and  husband.   There 
was  no  .sorrow  that  he  left  his  ills  across  the  sea.    So  we 
may  look  to  meet  our  loved  ones  and  we  shall  find  them 
changed,  glorified,  fitted  to  their   heavenly   state ;  but 
it  will  not  be  a  sorrow  to  us  that  they  have  left  the 
marks  of  their  humanity  in  the  grave,  and  that  all  frail- 


■fr' 
-  '1 


(I  I' 
% 

t: 


in 


,66  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 

ties,  moral  and  physical,  are  gone;  the  stains  of  sin 
wiped  from  the  brow,  and  the  garments  of  earth  ex- 
changed for  those  in  heaven.  Let  us  then  rejoice  to- 
day in  the  identity,  and  the  recognition  and  exaltation 
of  our  friends  in  the  New  Jerusalem. 

There  is  another  truth  in  the  connection,  namely : 

The  Meeting  with  all  the  Household  of  Faith. 

This   will  not  seem  of  much   value   to  you.     Your 
grief  is  so  sharp  that  you  think  only  of  him  who  is  just 
gone  from  us.     But  when  the  flood  of  tears  has  sub- 
sided a  little,  and  a  calmer  meditative  mood  has  come, 
then  this  truth  will  be  a  joy  to  you.     Christian  bless- 
ings are  not  little  family  affairs.     Our  joys  are  not  se  - 
fish-  not  confined  within  even  large  families.     Our  fel- 
lowship is  with  every  true  believer.     As,  we  grow  m 
grace  we  find  our    sympathies    reaching  out  to  more 
than  formerly,  and  we  are  glad  with  all  the  people  of 
God      It  is  with  these  as  with  oui'  eyesight.     We  can 
see  but  a  little  ways  about  us  here,  but  if  we  be  lifted 
up  our  vision  enlarges  ;  we  can  see  more  and  more  as 
we  rise,  until  with  strengthened  sight  we  can  see  the 
broad  world.     So  with  growing  Christian  experience, 
we  take  in  more  and  more  of  God's  people :  and  we  en- 
joy the  acquaintance  of  all  believers.     At  the  meeting 
of  Christians  in  Cincinnati,  under  Mr.  Moody,  this  win- 
ter  there  were  seven  thousand  people  listening  to  the 
gospel  at  one  time;  and  for  several   days  hundreds  of 
Christians  met  to  rejoice  together  in  the  truths  of  salva- 
tion, and  though  we  were  strangers  to  each  other  yet 
there  was  a  bond  of  fellowship.     One  woman  said  to 
me    '  'I  feel  as  if  I  had  found  a  thousand  friends  to-day. 


^^~^-^~^^r^:i'>-^[y'^^!^'^S^!^!S^-''^^^'- 


t. 

[le  stains  of  sin 
nts  of  earth  ex- 
then  rejoice  to- 
1  and  exaltation 

Lion,  namely: 

d  of  Faith. 

to  you.  Your 
f  him  who  is  just 
)f  tears  has  sub- 
mood  has  come, 

Christian  bless- 

joys  are  not  sel- 

imilies.     Our  fel- 

As  we  grow  in 
liing  out  to  more 
all  the  people  of 
^esight.  We  can 
lut  if  we  be  lifted 
lore  and  more  as 
it  we  can  see  the 
istian  experience, 
eople :  and  we  en- 

At  the  meeting 
.  Moody,  this  win- 
e  listening  to  the 
days  hundreds  of 
the  truths  of  salva- 
to  each  other  yet 
ne  woman  said  to 
nd  friends  to-day." 


Funeral  Services. 


\6j 


We  ar-  told  in  the  text  that  we  shall   meet  all  the  be- 
lievers in  our  Lord.     And  we  are  glad.   For  one  I  want 
to  see  old  grandmother  Bliss,  the  mother  of  this  father 
of  ours,  I  want  to  know  her  as  a  mother  in  Israel  who 
trained  her  boys  to  be  so  true  to  God.     Father  Sabin 
will  want  to  meet  old  Dr.  Stoughton,  whom  he  rever- 
enced as   a  teacher,    and   Fuller,   the  theologian,    by 
whose  writings  he  profited.     We  all  desire  to  meet  the 
giants  of  Christian  thought  who  wrought  out  the  state- 
ments of  doctrine  for  the  world  in  the  early  centuries. 
We  shall  wish  to  sit  and  hear  from  the  martyrs  how  the 
grace  of  God  took  the  sting  out  of  the  fires  of  their 
martyrdom ;  and  from  the  early  missionaries,  the  story 
of  the   triumphs   of  the   truth    over   the   hardness   of 
heathen  hearts.     It  seems  as  if  all  eternity  will  be  too 
short  to  hear  the  story  of  redemption's  work.     Then 
we  must  talk  with  Paul  who  wrote  these  words  of  our 
text,  and  the  epistles  of  our  New  Testament ;  and  with 
John,  who  gave  us  the  words  of  Jesus  in  the   14th  and 
15th  of  his  gospel,  and  told  us  of  the  city  of  God  in  his 
Revelation  ;  and  there  are  the  Prophets,  and  old  Abra- 
ham, towering  up  in  the  grandeur  of  their  faith,   like 
pyramids  of  Egypt  above  the  surrounding  level.     And 
back  of  them  are  Noah,  and  Methusaleh,  and  Enoch, 
and  Abel.     All  that  vast  multitude  of  the  household  of 
faith,  the  church  of  the  first-born,  the  company  which 
no  man  can  number,  all  they  will  be  there,  and  we  shall 
meet  them.     And,    as   our   minds   contemplate   it   in 
quiet,  it  w!l  be  seen  to  be  a  promise  that  is   given 
to  satisfy  one  of  the  deepest  desires  of  the  soul.     And 
we  shall  meet  them  in  the  air,  be  caught  up  together 
with  them  to  the  company  of  the  Savior. 

There  is  a  question  here  which  it  is  not  well  to  pass  by. 


-ii'^^MiKV^:  >.:^*''' 


I 


i68 


Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabin. 


-  r. 


1^ 


^ii 


11 


it 


Will  These  Earthly  Relations  Continue?    Or,  In  Other  Words, 
Will  He  Be  Our  Father  And  Grandfather  Still  ? 

We  would  be  cautious  in  the  answer,  but  we  may  say 
with  confidence  that  nothing  will  be  taken  from  us  which 
adds  to  our  comfort.  If  the  joys  of  Heaven  are  more  joy- 
ful by  the  dearer  attachment  to  our  own  kin  than  to 
others,  then  we  shall  have  that  attachment.     But  it  is 
possible  to  so  outshine  this  love  of  kin  in  the  flesh  by  the 
Christian  kinship,  that  it  is  almost  forgotten.      He  who 
is   gone   was  almost  more   to  us  as  a  Christian  than 
as  a  relative.     Indeed  it  was  the  Christian  spirit   shm- 
ing  through  the  relative  which  made  him  a  prince,  yea, 
a  king  of  relatives.     The  moon  has  a  glory  of  its  own, 
and  it  is  not  taken  away  at  sunrise  ;  yet  the  glory  of  the 
sun  is  so  much  greater  that  we  do  not  see  the  moon  m 
the  day  time.     Paul  said  of  the  Old  Testament  that  it 
was  glorious,  but  it  came  to  have  no  glory  because  of 
the  glory  of  that  which  excelleth.     Undoubtedly  the 
love  of  Mary  for  her  son  was  great.     I  do  not  wonder 
that  the  church  of  Rome  exalts  Mary.     The  angel  said 
at  the  annunciation,  "Blessed  art  thou  among  women." 
,>at    she    give   birth  to    the  Christ,  the  Savior  of  the 
world,    the  King  of    Heaven,    this   was   transcendent 
honor.      And  she  knew  it,  and  none  could  have  more 
love  than  she    for  that  boy.      Yet,   when  she    came    to 
know  that  she  like  all  others  was  saved  by  the  cross, 
and  that  the  pain  she  saw  him  suffer,  that  shame  which 
she  saw   him   bear    on  the   tree,    which  nearly  broke 
her  heart  to  see,  was  endured  in  part  for  her  sins  that 
she  might  have  a  new  and  living  way  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  accepted  him  as  her  Savior,  it  seems  as  if  she 
would  be  occupied  with  thoughts  of  him  as  Savior  more 


1" 


Funeral  Sennces. 


.69 


n  Other  Words, 
ler  Still  P 

jt  we  may  say 
1  from  us  which 
1  are  more  joy- 
n  kin  than  to 
:nt.      But  it  is 
the  flesh  by  the 
ten.      He  who 
Christian  than 
an  spirit   shin- 
1  a  prince,   yea, 
)ry  of  its  own, 
;he  glory  of  the 
ee  the  moon  in 
stament  that  it 
lory  because  of 
ndoubtedly  the 
do  not  wonder 
The  angel  said 
mong  women." 
le  Savior  of  the 
IS   transcendent 
3uid  have  more 
n  she   came   to 
:d  by  the  cross, 
lat  shame  which 
:h  nearly  broke 
or  her  sins  that 
o  the  throne  of 
it  seems  as  if  she 
n  as  Savior  more 


than  as  son.     Of  this  Jesus  gave  a  kind  intimation  when 
he  said  to  those  who  reported  to  him  that  his   mother 
was  without,  and  wished  to  see  him.     Looking  around 
on  his  disciples,  he  said,  "behold  my  mother  and  my 
brethren."     This  seems  to  teach,— not  that  he  had  left 
his  love  for  his  mother,— but  th?it  he  had  taken  all  his 
disciples  in  the  .same  close  circle  of  his  affections  as  his 
mother.     At  another  time  he  said,    "In  heaven  they 
neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage,  but  are  as  the 
angels."     James  and  John  were  sons  of  Zedebee,   and 
therefore  brothers  ;  yet  they  were  both  apostles.      And 
it  would  not  seem  strange  if,  as  they  came  to  realize  the 
great  honor  and  responsibility  they  had  from  our  Lord 
in  being  the  authoritative  teachers  of  his   gospel,    the 
foundation  builders  of  the  church  of  the  new  covenant, 
that  this  fellowship  of  work, and  the  fellowship  in  Christ 
out-ranked   all    other    relations,    and   John    the   fellow 
apostle   was  dearer  to  James  than  John  the  brother. 
But  this  we  can  leave  to  him  who  loved  us  and  gave  his 
life  for  us.     Among  the  writings  I  have  seen  of  late  is 
this  sentence,  "God   never  does  anything  which  a  man 
would  not  do  if  he  knew  as  much  as  God."     There- 
suits  will  justify  the  ways  of  God. 
But  let  us  consider  another  truth  of  the  text. 

We  shall  be  with  the  Lord  forever. 

Brethren,  we  know  what  it  is  to  get  a  glimpse  of 
Christ  by  faith.  We  have  sometimes  been  with  a  iew 
of  his  people  when  we  ail  had  such  a  sense  of  his  good- 
ness and  glory  that  we  felt  like  lengthening  out  the 
hours.      Did    nr  t    our  heart   burn   within   us    while  we 


f\ 


,70  Life  of  Rev.  Alvah  Sabtn. 

talked  of  him  and  his  grace?  Yet  that  was  only  an^hour 
of  faith  in  him.     Looking  over  Father  Sabin's  writing  I 
found  an  account  of  a  time  when  he  had  a  clear  view  of 
Christ's  mercy,  and  he  said  it  seemed   as   if  he  could 
'  'walk  on  eggs  and  not  break  them. "     But  alas  !  these 
times  are  to  short  and  too  seldom.     Yet  they  are,   we 
are  told,  the  earnest  of  our  inheritance.     Now  when  a 
man  buys  a  piece  of  property  of  a  stranger  he  pays  five 
dollars  to  bind  the  bargain.     This  is  to  show  that  he  is 
in  earnest.  That  money  is  called  the  "earnest  money." 
It  is  just  like  the  balance  of  what  is  to  come.     So  the 
holy  spirit  which  gives  us  these  joyful  seasons  is  said  to 
be  the  "earnest  of  our  inheritance."    We  have  enough 
to  make  us  long  for  more  full  knowledge  of  Jesus.    But 
we  shall  be  with  him   forever.      Those  lips   which  we 
have  longed  to  hear  speak  will  speak   to   us ;  that  face 
which  we  have  longed  to  see  will  smile  upon  us,   the 
tabernacle  of  God  will  be  with  men,  and  he  will  dwell 
with  them,  and  they  will  be  his  people. 

We  have  heard  some  say  that  when  they  reached  the 
other  side  they  should  go  at  once  to  Jesus.  To  those  of 
a  few  years  in  Christian  life  this  seems  strange.     But  as 
we  grow  older  in  his  service  it  gets   to   be   our  own  de- 
sire and  expectation.  Paul  said,  "I  long  to  depart  and 
to  be  with  Christ. "     And  we  may  well  believe  that  our 
father  and  friend  has  ere  this  seen  Jesus,  and  is  now, 
while  we  are  studying  with  tearful  eyes  the  truth  about 
our  Savior,  sitting  at  his  feet  listening  to  the  lips  that 
had  so  often  interceded  with  the  Father  for  him.     This 
hope  it  is  that  fills  the  soul  with  longing.   It  will  be  the 
joy  of  heaven  to  thus  be  with  Jesus.   The  figure  chosen 
to  tell  us  of  heavens  joy  is  a  marriage   feast,  and  there 
the  bridegroom  is  the  center  of  attraction,  and   he  is 


,  l|Msftt»i*l!*<r.*i '  .,WC-_, 


-  ^■<i^.-AV.^^ia^St^-3 


,,ji.j;:«M»«i*aB«'*''#*.««*'*-«'*'***^''^^ 


^:;«;..«aS*iS*^««i' 


anly  an-.hour 
in's  writing  I 
clear  view  of 

if  he  could 
t  alas  !  these 
they  are,   we 
Now  when  a 
•  he  pays  five 
ow  that  he  is 
lest  money." 
ome.     So  the 
sons  is  said  to 
;  have  enough 
jf  Jesus.    But 
ips   which  we 

us ;  that  face 
upon  us,   the 

he  will  dwell 

;y  reached  the 
s.  To  those  of 
range.  But  as 
e   our  own  de- 

to  depart  and 
elieve  that  our 
i,  and  is  now, 
the  truth  about 
o  the  lips  that 

for  him.  This 
;.  It  will  be  the 
le  figure  chosen 
east,  and  there 
;ion,  and   he  is 


Funeral  Services. 


•71 


Christ.  He  it  is  who  with  the  Father  makes  the  light  of 
heaven.  What  more  could  be  said  to  us  for  comfort  than 
these  things  ?  They  are  a  fountain  of  consolation  for  all 
who  believe  in  Jesus.  They  are  my  comfort  to-day. 
They  take  the  sting  from  the  sorrow.  I  am  thankful  for 
them.  I  praise  his  name  for  them.  I  am  thankful  that 
I  have  been  able  to  command  my  feelings  to  speak  them 
to  you.  O,  that  every  one  here  would  be  comforted 
by  them. 


At  Georgia,  another  service  was  held.  A  great  num- 
ber went  tenderly  to  receive  the  body  which  though  it 
was  but  a  body  they  still  loved.  The  old  meeting  house 
at  the  "Plain"  where  for  so  many  years  he  preached,  was 
hung  in  mourning.  A  picture  of  Father  Sabin  looked 
down  upon  the  sad  congregation.  Peacefully  his  face 
slept  under  their  gaze  in  the  place  where  he  had  seen  so 
many  of  his  towns  people.  Again  it  was  verified, 
"There  is  one  event  to  us  all,  and  there  is  no  discharge 
in  this  war." 

The  pastor  Rev.  J.  G.  Lorimer  spoke  from  the  words, 
"A  great  man  is  fallen  in  Israel,"  and  reviewed  the  qual- 
ities of  his  greatness.  Pastors  from  the  other  churches 
in  town  were  present  and  spoke  words  of  appreciation. 
Rev.  Mr.  Pratt,  of  St.  Albans  Baptist  church,  and  Rev. 
J.  H.Woodward, pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  at 
Milton,  an  old  man  who  had  been  intimately  acquainted 
with  him  for  many  years,  uttered  words  of  eulogy,  and 
thankfulness  for  his  influence. 

The  sad  company,  each  one  desirous  to  help  with  ten- 
der hand  then  took  up  the  casket,  bore  it  reverently  to 


'■  -.LVV;i.«i-S4j««"-J**^ 


If 


1-3  Ltfe  of  Rev.  Atvah  Sabtn. 

the  '  'grave  yard"  and  laid  it  among  their  own  loved  dead, 
by  the  side  of  his  mother  and  daughter  Pathenia.     Glad 
that  to  them  was  given  the  favor  of  doing  the  last  human 
service  to  a  man  that  for  eighty-three  years  was  a  self 
sacrificing  servant  of  theirs  for  Jesus  sake. 


He  can  not  come  to  us,  but  we  may  go  to  him. 


.-!s<te(aKii-=a«SSl*»*»»'.'-  "•='•'•  '■  ■ 


iit>.sL->j»'»wii  ^a^aeL-js 


pj«iSi«S«SW5»«'<S»*» 


1  loved  dead, 
lenia.  Glad 
e  last  human 
Ts  was  a  self 


9  him. 


Index. 


173 


INDEX. 


CHAPTER  I. 

RELIG10U8  EXPERIENCE.-Conver8ion  ;  Baptism  ;  (iep- 
eral  Character  of  his  Religion.^  Life 7 

CHAPTER  11. 

EDUCATION.-Dlstrict  Schools;  Habits  of  Study ;  Opposition 
to  Theological  Training;  Burlington  College ;  Beginning 
of  Georgia  Academy ;  Beginning  of  Columbia  College  • 
Seminary  Course  at  Philadelphia 2I 

CHAPTER  III. 

ENTRANCE  TO  THE  MINISTRY.-Call ;  License;  Ordina- 
tion ;  Opposition  to  Ordination 33 

CHAPTER  IV. 
PASTORAL  RECORD. 

182a-1829.-Cambridge  ;  Westford 50 

1830-1839. -Masonic  Troubles;  Communion;  Alien  Bap- 
tisms ;  Temperance ;  Agent  for  State  Convention.  58 

1840-1849... ■■■ 

1850-1859 ." 5ft 

1860-1869 .."!!!......." 71 

1870-1876.— Close  of  Pastorate.........™..... .*..!!..l....".'.'..'.''.'.'.'  72 

CHAPTER  V. 
THE  FAREWELL ^^ 

CHAPTER  VI. 
CHARACTERISTICS yj 


rg?siS«S«i».«j«!«»M»!* 


« 


,74  Index. 

chaptek  vii. 

POLITICAL  RECORD.- Anti-Masonic  Movement- Abolition    ^^ 

Party ■"■' 

CHAPTER    VIII. 
GLEANINGS.  ,2^ 

Account  of  HiB  First  Wife " 

Reflections  on  His  Ninety-first  Birthday J^* 

Family  History ^^ 

Facts  Concerning  His  Motlier ^^^ 

Boyish  Military  Tastes ^^ 

An  Old  Subscription ^^ 

Entrance  to  Congress • ^^^ 

Concerning  His  Leaving  Georgia ^^ 

New  Hampton  Institution ••••••• - 

A  Figure  Showing  the  Folly  of  Criticinng  the  Purposes  of  ^^^ 

God j^ 

Gen.  O.  E.  Babcock 

CHAPTER  IX. 

147 
THE  GATES  AFFAIR .........^  1 

CHAPTER  X. 
A  SERMON  OF  1839 •  •  —•— --l^S 

CHAPTER  XI. 
FUNERAL  SERVICES ...;• ^^® 


m 


i«»B»«»»' 


—Abolition 
98 

120 

124 

126 

'"„' 129 

'"" 133 

,".".". 136 

138 

." 139 

140 

3  Purposes  of 

142 

146 

147 

153 

159 


vma 


.  j^  ,  «,■ ... .  ■ « '-yywpr  ■■■  TL"f.  v?T-^.?'ffl!!?.Li  ■[ ;  .■jBi_  i  ^p.r 


